Vente aux enchères Genève 7 mai 2010 – Résultats
Samedi, 08 Mai 2010 00:00

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Ita McCobb
International Marketing & Communication,
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers SA
Tel +41 22 318 28 38
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Patrizzi & Co, 7 May 2010 Auction results

TIMELESS EMOTIONS
IMPORTANT COLLECTORS’ POCKET WATCHES, WRISTWATCHES, CLOCKS & DOCUMENTS

An impressive CHF 5’802’250.00 achieved

After a disruptive start, due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption which caused many of the important timepieces intended for this auction to be blocked in Hong Kong and the auction itself to be postponed from 25 April to 7 May 2010, everything came right in the end. The auction was held in two afternoon sessions with the 317 lots achieving an impressive CH 5’802’250.00.

For this, the first Patrizzi & Co auction of the Geneva Spring auction calendar held in the Grand Hotel Kempinski, around 70 people bid in the auction room and there was a steady flow of written bids. While the telephone bids came thick and fast for the majority of the pieces on offer in the auction, unfortunately LiveAuctioneers’ online bidding system failed so it was not possible to bid online.

The dramatic highlight of this auction has to be the sale to the Breguet museum, for a record-breaking CHF 2.3 million, of the most important horological document in existence and now classified among the seven most important manuscripts in the world ever sold – along with the manuscripts of Da Vinci, Abraham Lincoln, Hainhofer Stammbuch, the Qur’an, Copernicus De Revolutionibus orbium, and the Book of Hours.

The fierce bidding for this document created a cliff-hanging end to the auction as competition from around the world for this historic Breguet manuscript intensified. The bidding was feverish with the initial manuscript lot (311) quickly arriving at more than four times its initial estimate. This phenomenon was repeated with each lot in the manuscript group, with several of the lots, in particular lots 315 and 316, which cover Breguet’s thoughts on the tourbillion and Marine chronometers respectively, achieving more than eight times their initial estimate.

Many of the pieces in the rest of the auction achieved double their original estimate while most sold for their mid-estimate. It is worthwhile noting that, unlike other auction houses, Patrizzi & Co do NOT charge buyers commission so the total figure quoted above is the total amount bid.



The top ten lots:

Click on the images to get the high resolution version

Lots 311-317 (sold as one lot)
Breguet’s history and philosophy
Breguet, Paris, written between 1818 and 1823
This is a remarkable manuscript with drawings, in which Breguet describes what he perceived to be the most important horological discoveries, aspects of the history of his firm, the history of different calibers, his horological experiences, innovations and secrets. The recent discovery of this work completely changes our understanding of the history of horology and our attitude to and knowledge of watchmaking.

Sold for CHF 2,300,000

Lot 100
Patek Philippe first series split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar, Ref. 5004
Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 5004, movement no. 879505, case no. 2963332, sold on 20 March 2001.
Extremely fine and important, 18K yellow gold, astronomic, water-resistant, gentlemen’s wristwatch with coaxial round-button split seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, 24-hour indication, 30-minute register, Patek Philippe leather strap and Patek Philippe 18K yellow gold buckle, original fitted box, Certificate of Origin, alternate back and ruby-set push pin.

Sold for CHF 210,000
Lot 305
Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 2497, movement no. 888034, case no. 678861, circa 1953
Extremely fine and equally rare, 18K yellow gold, astronomical, center-seconds, gentlemen’s wristwatch with perpetual calendar, phases of the moon and a Patek Philippe 18K yellow gold buckle, accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.

Sold for CHF 200,000
Lot 92
Patek Philippe yellow gold chronograph Ref. 1463, two-tone dial
Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 1463, movement no. 868647, case no. 684680, made in 1953, sold on 23 August 1956.

Sold for CHF 130,000
Lot 242
“Paul Newman Millerighe” Cosmograph, Ref. 6265
Rolex, Oyster, Cosmograph, ref. 6265/6241, case no. 2805284, circa 1971
Fine and rare, tonneau-shaped, stainless steel, water-resistant, gentlemen’s wristwatch with chronograph, “Millerighe” screw-down push buttons, 30-minute and 12-hour registers, tachometer graduated to 200 units, and Rolex stainless steel Oyster bracelet with Fliplock clasp.

Sold for CHF 85,000
Lot 191
Rolex, Cosmograph, brown changing color dial, Ref. 6264
Rolex, Cosmograph, ref. 6264, no. 2.425.808, circa 1970
Very fine and extremely rare, tonneau-shaped, stainless steel, gentlemen’s wristwatch round-button chronograph, tachometer graduated to 200 units, 30-minute and 12-hour registers.

Sold for CHF 84,000
Lot 144
Spring Allegory, made for the Chinese market
Almost certainly Jaquet-Droz, no. 889, made for the Chinese market, circa 1780.
Highly important and very rare, 18K yellow gold and painted on enamel, egg-shaped, center seconds, pocket watch with virgule escapement

Sold for CHF 70,000
Lot 145
Ilbery, London, no. 6116, made for the Chinese market, circa 1810
An important and magnificent, 18K rose gold, moss agate, cornelian, and enamel, center-seconds, watch with ruby duplex escapement.

Sold for CHF 70,000
Lot 302
Platinum “Tourbillon Breguet”
Breguet, Tourbillon Breguet no. 1290, brevet du 7 messidor an 9, Ref. 5357, case no. 363p, circa 2000 Very fine and rare, circular, oversized, platinum, gentlemen’s wristwatch with viewable one-minute tourbillon regulator, Breguet leather strap with Breguet platinum deployant buckle, original fi tted box, Certifi cate of Origin and Guarantee and instructions.

Sold for CHF 68,000
Lot 299
Unique pink gold Patek Philippe Doctor’s watch, ref. 1463
Patek Philippe, Genève, ref. 1463, movement no. 867886, case no. 672776, made in 1950, sold on April 13, 1951 Very fine and possibly unique, 18K pink gold, gentlemen’s wristwatch with rectangular-button chronograph, pulsometer, 30-minute register, Patek Philippe leather strap and Patek Philippe 18K pink gold buckle, accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.

Sold for CHF 62,000

 

Next Patrizzi & Co auction 15 June, New York