Antiquorum's October 8th auction of "Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces" totaled an impressive US$ 5,600,490. The outstanding and varied selection of 324 timepieces sold for a remarkable 86% by lot with strong international competition from all corners of the globe including China, Hong Kong, Italy, Germany as well as the United States.
The top highlight of the sale was the exceptional Patek Philippe Ref. 5539 Tourbillon Minute-Repeater with Black Enamel Dial (lot 167). The elegant white gold chronometer wristwatch attained $351,750.
Also highlighting the auction was the Vacheron Constantin Lord Kalla (lot 277). The very fine and important 18K yellow gold full diamond-set wristwatch sold for an outstanding $285,750 to a bidder from Hong Kong.
Equally as exciting, the cover lot, an A. Lange and Söhne Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite in Platinum (lot 150) attracted bidders attention and was acquired for $249,750, over double its estimate.
"We were delighted with the exceptional results for our October sale," said Evan Zimmermann, President and CEO of Antiquorum. " The spectacular outcome for our New York auction confirms that today's market is diverse with outstanding examples from both traditional and independent brands commanding top prices at auction."
Collectors aggressively competed for the Rolex Ref. 6240 "Paul Newman" Daytona in steel (lot 232) offered in today's sale. The highly sought-after timepiece sold to an online bidder for a remarkable $243,750.
Other vintage Rolex timepieces achieved noteworthy prices. The Rolex Ref. 6239 with Tropical Dial (lot 231), an extremely rare model in all original condition, was bought by a room bidder for $97,350; while the Rolex Ref. 6240 from the property of the original owner (lot 103) attained $87,500, over double its high estimate.
"In today's sale, we saw collectors fiercely competing for rare vintage pieces in excellent condition," said Saori Omura, Watch Director of Antiquorum New York. "In particular, we were thrilled by the level of competition for rare vintage Rolex confirming that special models such as the "Paul Newman" continue to elicit passionate bidding from collectors across the globe."
Patek Philippe attained particularly notable results with the three superb Ref. 5004 models offered in the sale; the Patek Philippe Ref. 5004 First Generation in Yellow Gold (lot 321) sold for $165,750; while the Patek Philippe Ref. 5004 First Generation in Pink Gold (lot 322) achieved $183,750; and lastly the Ref. 5004 Second Generation in Platinum (lot 323) was acquired for $183,750.
Further important examples from Patek Philippe were also in top demand. Four phone bidders battled over the Patek Philippe Ref. 5102 "Celestial" in white gold (lot 148) which ultimately sold for $162,150; and the exceptional Patek Philippe Ref. 3700/1 Jumbo Nautilus (lot 320) in 18K yellow gold achieved $66,250. Finally, the Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 with Luminous dial Retailed by Serpico Y Laino (lot 131) inspired a bidding war and finally acquired by a US bidder for $37,500, against a pre-auction estimate of $17,000 -$24,000.
Girard-Perregaux attained an outstanding result with the La Esmeralda Three Golden Bridge Tourbillon with Pivoted Dent Escapement (lot 18).The extremely rare and large 18K yellow gold hunting-cased keyless pocket chronometer sold for $99,750.
Antiquorum looks forward to its next auction on November 13 in Geneva which will encompass an extraordinary selection of complicated wristwatches from the world's leading brands.
The "top lots" for the sale are as follows:
Lot 167 - PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5539 TOURBILLON MINUTE-REPEATER BLACK ENAMEL DIAL WHITE GOLD SEALED. Sold May 5th, 2014. Extremely fine and rare, elegant, minute-repeating, 18K white gold Chronometer wristwatch with one minute tourbillon regulator, Breguet indexes black enamel dial and an 18K white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original fitted wooden box, Certificate of Origin, Rate Accuracy Certificate, separate 18K solid white gold case back, booklets and a leather folder with technical data and instructions.
Sold for: $351,750
Lot 277 - VACHERON CONSTANTIN LORD KALLA YELLOW GOLD & DIAMOND. Made in the 1980s. Exceptionally fine, important and impressive, 18K yellow gold full diamond-set wristwatch set with 287 baguette diamonds with an 18K yellow gold integrated baguette diamond-set bracelet. Accompanied by a fitted box.
SOLD FOR: $285,750
Lot 150 - A. LANGE & SOHNE REF. 760.025 RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON POUR LE MERITE PLATINUM SPECIALLY ORDERED WITH BLUED STEEL HANDS, No. 090 / 100, Ref. 760.025F. Made in a Limited Edition of 100 pieces in 2011. Extremely fine and rare platinum wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon, off-center hour dial with pivoting dial segment, large central minute dial and a platinum A. Lange & Söhne deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original fitted box, a travel box, instruction booklet and warranty.
Sold for: $249,750
Lot 232 - ROLEX, REF. 6240 "PAUL NEWMAN" COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA STEEL. Made circa 1967. Very fine and extremely rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer, anti-reflective black bezel graduated to 200 units per hour and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet (Ref, 78350) with deployant clasp.
Sold for: $243,750
Lot 323 - PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5004 SECOND GENERATION PLATINUM. Made in 2009. Exceptionally rare and important, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year, 24 hour indication and a platinum Patek Philippe folding buckle with Calatrava emblem. Accompanied by a Patek Philippe fitted box, Certificate of Origin, booklets, stylus and additional solid case back.
Sold for: $183,750
Lot 322 - PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5004 FIRST GENERATION PINK GOLD. Sold in 1997. Extremely rare and important, water-resistant, 18K pink gold wristwatch with split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year, 24 hour indication and an 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by a Patek Philippe fitted box, Certificate of Origin, booklets, stylus and additional solid case back.
Sold for: $183,750
Lot 321 - PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5004 FIRST GENERATION YELLOW GOLD. Sold in 2000. Highly rare and important, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year, 24 hour indication and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp with Calatrava emblem. Accompanied by a Patek Philippe fitted box, Certificate of Origin, booklets and additional solid case back.
Sold for: $165,750
Lot 148 - PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5102 CELESTIAL WHITE GOLD. Made in 2003. Extremely fine, rare and unusual, astronomic, self-winding, 18K white gold wristwatch with mean time indication, nocturnal sky chart of the Northern Hemisphere, moon phases and moon orbit, time of the meridian passage of Sirius and moon with an 18K white gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by an original Patek Philippe box and Extract from the Archives.
Sold for: $162,150
Lot 18 - GIRARD-PERREGAUX LA ESMERALDA THREE GOLDEN BRIDGE TOURBILLON WITH PIVOTED DETENT ESCAPEMENT YELLOW GOLD. Made circa 1895. Extremely fine and very rare, large, 18K yellow gold hunting-cased keyless pocket Chronometer with Perregaux caliber one-minute tourbillon carriage, pivoted detent Chronometer escapement, three golden bridge movement. Accompanied by the original fitted box.
Sold for: $99,750
Lot 231 - ROLEX REF. 6239 GRENE/TROPICAL DIAL, DOUBLE SWISS. Made circa 1962. Very fine and rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer, steel bezel graduated to 300 UPH and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp.
Sold for: $97,350
Thanks.