Engaging the Global Community
Dubai – Hong Kong – Geneva – Milan – New York
The Rolex Deep Sea #1 that made history and defined the Oyster legend, the first example of the Patek Philippe 2523 and a unique Henry Graves Patek Philippe 1436J with Breguet numerals.
Only Watch
20 October, 2021 – And…Action! Christie’s is delighted to release its 2021 Autumn/Winter watch calendar with 9 live and online auctions in Dubai, Hong Kong, Geneva, Milan, and New York, engaging the global community through events that address the diversity of buyer profiles and the diversity of watches on offer – and creating the perfect setting in which both can meet, with both live and online sales. As always, Christie’s international and dynamic team of watch experts has been diligently working with its global network of valued clients to bring together these fascinating collections of horological treasures – for another benchmark-setting season.
CHRISTIE’S FALL/WINTER WATCH AUCTION CALENDAR 2021
Aline Sylla-Walbaum, Christie’s Global Managing Director, Luxury Division, says: “One of the highlights of the Autumn/Winter 2021 season will undoubtedly be the Only Watch charity auction in November, with 53 one-off watchmaking creations by the most renowned ‘Manufactures.’ This will be the third time for Christie’s as the auctioneer of choice and we feel proud and privileged to see each sale reach new heights in support of the fight against muscular dystrophy. Only Watch is a fantastic cause, and its impact in showcasing independent watchmaking resonates with the global community too. Aside from the charity event, between October and December, Christie’s sales will present fantastic treasures, from vintage to modern and iconic. Get ready for a blockbuster season with a full programme of live and online auctions in Dubai, Hong Kong, Geneva, Milan, and New York.”
CHRISTIE’S DUBAI
13 – 27 October – Watches Online: Dubai Edit
Dubai, stronger than ever, started with the Watches Online sale, which is already notably higher than last season (low estimate: US$ 9.4m vs US$ 8.6m). With over 200 lots, three watches hint at the strength of the selection on offer: a pink gold Rolex Ref. 6232 chronograph, a watch so rare that only a handful of examples have appeared in the market over the last five decades; an even rarer titanium Richard Mille RM011 Felipe Massa UAE Edition – a flyback chronograph that’s limited to just seven pieces; and a Patek Philippe Ref. 5102G Celestial, a white gold astronomical wristwatch that borrows the principle of the celestial canopy from the iconic Ref. 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon.
Remy Julia, Head of Watches Christie’s Middle East, India & Africa, shared: “Watches Online: The Dubai Edit returned this October with a tightly curated selection of rare and exclusive timepieces. The concept is going from strength to strength as the total estimate for this third online edition well exceeds that set for the previous one in Spring 2021: US$ 9.9m vs US$ 8.675m. The gamut runs from extremely complex to extremely rare, from iconic to legendary, from classic to contemporary. The quality and diversity of the pieces reinforces Dubai’s position as a global hub for the most desirable vintage and modern watches.”
CHRISTIE’S HONG KONG 27 November 2021 – Important Watches
Hot on the heels of the ‘No Time Like the Present’ sale last month, the Important Watches live auction has highlights in store, unveiling highly sought-after pieces at two sales held on the same day, one in the morning, with 160 lots, and one in the afternoon with approximately 25 lots. Included in the afternoon sale is an extremely rare and historically important Patek Philippe split-second chronograph in 18K yellow gold Ref. 1436J with Breguet numerals from 1946, which was sold to Henry Graves Jr. in 1947 (est. US$ 1.5-3m).
Another important Patek Philippe is the Ref. 5207 with multiple complications – minute repeater, perpetual calendar, tourbillon, moon phases, day/night indication, and leap year display – circa 2013 will be presented during the morning sale alongside some vintage marvels such as a Rolex Ref. 6238 in 18k gold with black glossy dial.
For collectors who appreciate the decorative arts in combination with historical horology, a Piguet & Capt 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set, musical perfume flask and automaton amphora form timekeeper (circa 1805) believed to be made for the Chinese imperial family is a rarity in very good condition for its age, fresh to the market and presented for the first time at auction. For women, there will be a delightful Richard Mille RM 07-02 from 2016 that comes in a pink sapphire and 18K pink gold case with a dial crafted from mother-of-pearl and diamonds and a skeletonized automatic movement.
Alexandre Bigler, Vice President and Head of Watches, Christie’s Asia Pacific comments: “Following our strong first auction of the season with the famous Audemars Piguet ‘Marvel Black Panther’, we continue with 2 major sales to be held on 27 November, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Marvels such as a Henry Graves Jr. Patek Philippe split-second chronograph in 18K yellow gold Ref. 1436J with Breguet numerals as well as a Piguet & Capt 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set, musical perfume flask and automaton amphora form timekeeper will represent collectors dreams come true.”<
CHRISTIE’S GENEVA2 – to 16 November – Watches Online: Geneva Edit
Geneva Watches Online, open for bidding from 2 November to 16November will feature many surprises for collectors searching for the exceptional. Amongst them: a Rolex white gold “Rainbow” Daytona – true modern icon, instantly recognizable the world over and by far the most sought after of all modern Daytonas; a Rolex pink gold “Pearl Master” with pavé diamond-set; an elegant Cartier “Tank Asymètrique” in platinium – limited to 100 examples in platinum this watch, launched in 1996, is a readaptation of Cartier’s 1936 “Parallelogram” model; as well as two exceptional Patek Philippe models: the Ref. 3941 yellow gold perpetual calendar and the Ref. 5270G white gold perpetual calendar chronograph.
6 November – Only Watch
Christie’s will be supporting the Only Watch auction for the third time, with 53 one-of-a-kind timepieces offered for sale to fund research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Having raised over 70 million euros to date for such a good cause, the biennial event remains a must-attend as a showcase for unique and creative watches by some of the greatest names, including independent watchmakers. The sale in Geneva crowns the Only Watch World Tour that kicked off in September in Monaco and took the prized collection of masterpieces to Dubai, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong. www.onlywatch.com
8 November – Rare Watches
The particularity of the Rare Watches Geneva Sale: For the first time at Christie’s Geneva, fewer than 120 watches will be offered in a single live sale at Geneva’s Four Seasons Hotel der Bergues, meticulously curated for quality and desirability, with timepieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe and more. One of the major highlights is the amazing Rolex Deep Sea Special #1 (est. CHF 2-3m), a prototype developed by the Rolex manufacture to accompany divers to the greatest depths. The model is considered the ultimate incarnation of the Oyster case and is famous for being worn by Swiss inventor-physicist-explorer Professor Auguste Piccard and his son Jacques on the first ‘proof of concept’ dive of the bathyscaphe Trieste to a depth of 3,150 metres in 1953 – providing invaluable insights for the Rolex Deep Sea Special No. 3 that would make the voyage to the bottom of the Marianas Trench in 1960.
The sale will also feature iconic watches from the famed Geneva manufacture Patek Philippe, including two superb Ref. 3448 in white gold and yellow gold; and an exclusive Ref. 5004 in stainless steel, only sold to Patek Philippe’s most select clients.
The pièce de resistance: “L’Heure d’Or”, the first example of the Patek Philippe Ref. 2523 Two-Crown World Time in 18k gold, with 24 hours indication and first time seen waved guilloche gold dial. This masterpiece is debuting at auction and estimated at CHF 3.5m. The Rare Watches sale will also feature part of a private collection of pocket watches, displaying some of Breguet’s most attractive pieces and important inventions.
2 – 14 December – Rare Pocket Watches
The crescendo of events leading to the season’s close at Christie’s Geneva will culminate in a Single Owner Online Sale from 2 December 2 to 14 December displaying a beautiful array of 406 pocket watches from a distinguished private European collector. All the watches are in pristine condition and full working order, the living progeny of artist-engineers who defined their epoch and, in some cases, continue to do so: Patek Philippe, Breguet, Audemars, Markwick Markham Perigal, Capt… From ‘simple’ complications to tourbillons, from perpetual calendars to minute repeaters, from automatons to imitations of living creatures, and everything in-between – the full range of watchmaking mastery and artisanship is represented in this collection.
Already in the Parisian society of the late 18th century checking the time during conversation was considered quite rude, hence Abraham Louis Breguet’s invention of the montre à tact – a watch that could stay in the pocket as it enabled the owner to discreetly ‘tell’ time with the sense of touch. Several exemplars of such ‘tactful’ pocket watches are also in the collection.
Rémi Guillemin, Head of Watches Christie’s Geneva, says: “True to the city’s heritage as the cradle of finest watchmaking, Christie’s Geneva has a dazzling programme in store for this second half of 2021. The Only Watch charity auction, which we are proud to support, will be bringing together all the major players for a great cause, and raise pulse rates with nice surprises, particularly in terms of creation and innovation on the part of watchmakers. We keep up the pace with the Rare Watches auction with, among other showstoppers, the stunning first example of the Patek Philippe Ref. 2523. Undoubtedly a most significant offering of rare and important pieces.”
CHRISTIE’S MILAN
25 October – 2 November – Jewels & Watches Online: La Dolce Vita
Christie’s Milan Jewels & Watches online: La Dolce Vita features a curated selection of jewels and gems by Italy’s most prestigious firms including Buccellati, Bulgari and Pederzani, along with the most important international maisons such as Cartier, Chopard, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Van Cleef & Arpels and many others. The sale also offers a charming jewellery collection from the Italian actress, Franca Valeri, who received international acclaim in her 60 years long career. Among the important pieces is the iconic sapphire Trombino ring by Bulgari and a diamond and cultured pearls necklace.
24 November to 10 December – Watches Online
The online sale in New York, led by Keith Davis, Head of Department, and his team, promises many surprises. More details to come.