Christie’s New York is taking no chances with hyping its next major watch auction, naming it a sale of “Important watches of exceptional provenance”.
The two day sale of 137 watches takes place online and in the Manhattan sale room over two evenings on June 8 and 9.
The first evening will include the third of three auctions for the Kairos Collection, described as one of the finest collection of Patek Philippe contemporary timepieces ever to appear at auction.
The collection was split into three auctions taking place in Geneva, Hong Kong and New York.
The American sale includes a Patek Philippe reference 5531R-012, an exceptional 18ct rose gold minute repeating world time wristwatch with miniature cloisonné enamel dial.
A rare Patek Philippe 5950/1A-010 split second chronograph in steel with blue dial, one of just 10 made, is also on the block along with a ref. 5740/1G-001 perpetual calendar double signed by Tiffany & Co.
The second evening has a focus on vintage and modern icons including the extraordinarily rare and important Patek Philippe 18k white gold 3448G, “Red Dot,” a newly discovered Rolex steel Daytona reference 6263, MK 1 “Paul Newman Oyster Sotto,” as well as the early and desirable F. P. Journe platinum Chronometre á Resonance with brass movement.
Other highlights include historically significant military examples such as the Rolex 3525 ”Monoblocco,” the personal watch of RAF Lt. Gerald Imeson worn as a “POW,” instrumental in the planning and execution of “The Great Escape,” 24 March, 1944.
No auction of important watches this year could overlook the 50th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and Christie’s has a reference 5402 A-Series for sale and a platinum skeletonized perpetual calendar Ref. 25636PT.
Top ten watches at Christie’s New York June auction
(descriptions and estimates by Christie’s)
The Kairos Collection: Exceptional Timepieces by Patek Philippe
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5531R-012 A VERY FINE 18K ROSE GOLD MINUTE REPEATING WORLD TIME WRISTWATCH WITH CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DIAL DEPICTING THE LAVAUX VINEYARDS ON THE SHORES OF LAKE GENEVA
$1,000,000-2,000,000
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 3448G, “RED DOT”
AN EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPORTANT 18K WHITE GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH LEAP YEAR INDICATOR, ONE OF TWO KNOWN 3448 “RED DOT” IN 18K WHITE GOLD.
$800,000-1,600,000
ROLEX REF. 6263, COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA “OYSTER SOTTO” “PAUL NEWMAN” DIAL
$600,000-1,000,000
The Kairos Collection: Exceptional Timepieces by Patek Philippe
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5950/1A-010 AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE STEEL CUSHION-SHAPED SPLIT-SECONDS MONOPUSHER CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH ON BRACELET, LIMITED SERIES OF 10
$300,000-500,000
The Kairos Collection: Exceptional Timepieces by Patek Philippe
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5711/1A-014, NAUTILUS A VERY RARE AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE “GREEN DIAL” STEEL WRISTWATCH WITH DATE
$200,000-400,000
F. P. JOURNE CHRONOMETRE A RESONANCE, A VERY IMPORTANT 38MM PLATINUM DUAL TIME WRISTWATCH WITH POWER RESERVE AND DUAL ESCAPEMENT BRASS MOVEMENT
$300,000-500,000
The Kairos Collection: Exceptional Timepieces by Patek Philippe
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5372P-010 A VERY ATTRACTIVE PLATINUM SPLIT SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASE
$200,000-400,000
The Kairos Collection: Exceptional Timepieces by Patek Philippe
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5740/1G-001, NAUTILUS AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE 18K WHITE GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH LEAP YEAR INDICATOR, MOONPHASES, AND NAUTILUS CUFFLINKS, RETAILED & SIGNED BY TIFFANY & CO.
$200,000-400,000
ROLEX REF. 3525, “THE GREAT ESCAPE” A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH. THE PERSONAL WATCH OF RAF LT. GERALD IMESON WORN AS A “POW” IN STALAG LUFT III, INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF “THE GREAT ESCAPE”, 24 MARCH, 1944.
$200,000-400,000
The Kairos Collection: Exceptional Timepieces by Patek Philippe
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5968G-010, AQUANAUT A FINE 18K WHITE GOLD FLY-BACK CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH DATE, RETAILED & SIGNED BY TIFFANY
$150,000-250,000
