On 27 November, Christie’s Hong Kong will be holding a live auction event that will feature The Triazza Collection, Part I, which comprises some of the rarest and most magnificent timepieces from Patek Philippe. The auction offers a total of over 200 watches, with a selection of highly desirable timekeepers, both modern and vintage. Renowned Maisons such as Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre and A.Lange&Söhne will be represented in this sale, including noteworthy creations by F.P. Journe, among them an exceptional T-30.
The Triazza Collection, Part I
Patek Philippe collectors no doubt have the particular watch in mind that would make their collection perfect, and their dream may come true with this auction. The Triazza Collection is an incredible grouping that is not only a testament to the taste and discernment of its present owner, but also one in which each individual watch has been carefully chosen for its rarity, condition, beauty and provenance.
From The Triazza Collection, Part I
Lot 2523 – Esmond Bradley Martin Ref. 605 HU cloisonné dial ‘North America’, manufactured in 1950.
This exemplary Patek Philippe reference 605 HU (Heure Universelle) World Time dress watch with cloisonné enamel ‘North America’ dial is one of only a handful of these sublimely beautiful horological masterpieces to ever have come to market. It brings with it a wonderful and impeccable provenance, its first owner was one of the great American watch collectors of the 20th century, Esmond Bradley Martin, who purchased this watch from Tiffany & Co. in New York in December 1957. For the past decade, it has been a highlight of an important private watch collection.
From 1939 to 1964 Louis Cottier and Patek Philippe produced up to 95 pieces of the reference 605 HU, of which 68 were in yellow gold and 27 in pink gold. Reference 605 HU was available with a plain metal dial or a unique cloisonné enamel dial. The latter could depict individual continents, hemispheres or even the entire planet. This reference was one of the earliest to use Louis Cottier’s world time system and each watch was made under Cottier’s direct supervision to ensure that the world time mechanism operated flawlessly, even after it was cased.
Patek Philippe’s cloisonné dial wristwatches are always among the rarest and most exclusive watches of any reference. Today, only around 12 surviving examples of reference 605 HU are known with cloisonné dials, however only four, including the present watch, were decorated with the map of North America.
(Est: HK$7,000,000-14,000,000)
Lot 2522 – Geneva Observatory 1st Prize tourbillon, manufactured in 1924.
This important and large-size Geneva Observatory 1st Prize winning tourbillon is not only in exceptional condition and one of the finest high-precision Patek Philippe watches, it is also possibly unique in retaining both its original gold case and white enamel Breguet numeral dial and, in addition, its original antimagnetic observatory contest case and original contest silver sector dial. To the best of our knowledge, no other Patek Philippe observatory chronometer in private hands is known to be in existence with both cases and both dials surviving intact.
According to the Geneva Observatory records, the present movement was awarded a First Prize at the Timing Contest of 1931 with 782 points out of a possible 1000. This chronometer was the 13th out of the 50 classified among more than 600. The first in the trial gained 856 and the last 604, 58 chronometers were entered for the contest. The tourbillon carriage was made by James Pellaton and the watch was adjusted by master adjuster Jules Golay-Audemars. As is common to all Patek Philippe movements made for observatory testing, the present watch it is engraved twice with the movement number. The inscription “Extra” on the bridge of the movement refers to the very high finishing of all the parts of the movement. This watch achieved chronometer standard as attested to by the stamping of the movement with the Seal of Geneva (twice).
Patek Philippe’s early 20th century tourbillon watches for the Observatory Contest are by their very nature among the very best precision timepieces ever made. Their prime purpose was to win prizes and accolades at the Observatory timing contests. The prestige conferred by obtaining consistent Observatory awards was considerable; as a result, the company’s proven track record in making and adjusting watches to extremely fine tolerances resulted in greater commercial success for the brand as a whole.
(Est: HK$5,500,000 – 11,000,000)
Lot 2520 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5004J-017. An almost certainly unique yellow gold split seconds chronograph perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 24-hour and leap year indications, with a Certificate of Origin-confirmed stunning black monogram dial, luminous indexes and luminous hands and white tachymeter scale, made as a bespoke commission for the remarkable American collector Michael Ovitz. Circa 2011.
(Est: HK$5,000,000 – 10,000,000)
Lot 2521 – Patek Philippe Ref. 1415 Heures Universelles. A superb and very rare 18k gold world time wristwatch, with ‘short’ signature, manufactured in 1948. Only 82 pieces were made in yellow gold, and less than 20 pieces in yellow gold examples with ‘short’ signature.
(Est: HK$1,500,000-3,000,000)
Exhilarating Patek Philippe
Lot 2519 – Patek Philippe Ref. 5073P-001. An extremely rare and magnificent diamond-set platinum automatic “Cathedral” minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 24-hour and leap year indication. On the bezel: baguette-cut diamonds. Circa 2014.
(Est: HK$11,000,000 – 18,000,000)
Noteworthy F.P Journe timepieces
Lot 2414 – F.P. Journe 30th Anniversary Tourbillon, limited edition of 99 pieces. A rare 18k rose gold and silver limited edition tourbillon wristwatch to celebrate thirty years since the founding of the F.P. Journe watchmaking Manufacture. Circa 2014.
(Est: HK$2,400,000 – 4,800,000)
Lot 2413 – F.P. Journe lineSport Automatique Reserve, 18k pink gold automatic wristwatch with date, power reserve, day/night indication and bracelet. Circa 2021.
(Est: HK$800,000 – 1,600,000)
Lot 2410 – F.P. Journe Élégante 40 platinum, an attractive lady’s diamond and sapphire-set platinum wristwatch. Circa 2021.
(Est: HK$350,000 – 700,000
Lot 2409 – F.P. Journe Élégante 40 titanium, an attractive lady’s ceramic and diamond-set titanium wristwatch. Circa 2021.
(Est: HK$180,000 – 280,000)
About Christie’s
Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales, Christie’s offers a full portfolio of global services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. It also is the only international auction house authorized to hold sales in mainland China (Shanghai).
Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $200 to over $100 million. In recent years, Christie’s has achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction (Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, 2017), for a 20th century artwork (Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 2022) and for a work by a living artist (Jeff Koons’ Rabbit, 2019). Christie’s is also recognised as a reference for prestigious single owner collections, having auctioned 8 of the 10 most important collections in history.
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*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price – see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are reported net of applicable fees.