A Patek Philippe Ref. 5016 rose gold Tourbillon Minute Repeater with Perpetual Calendar with a black dial sold for a world record CHF 723,750 (£492,328) at an Antiquorum auction on November 10.
The timepiece was the third example ever to appear at auction and the first with a black dial. After several minutes of competitive bidding between phone bidders, the timepiece sold for the world record price.
The Antiquorum’s auction of Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces, which was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva, totaled CHF 7,632,475 (£5,191,954).
The collection of 610 timepieces sold 80% by lot and 127% by value. Strong international participation came from China, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland and the United States.
Antiquorum Geneva managing director Julien Schaerer said: “We are delighted with the result for the exceptional Patek Philippe Ref. 5016 with black dial offered in our November auction. As confirmed by today’s sale, collectors continue to aggressively compete for timepieces that epitomise the top echelon of the market.”
Another Patek Philippe that was highly sought-after in the sale was the earliest known Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 with leap-year Indicator. Recently discovered and offered at auction for the first time, the 18 carat yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and leap year indicator attracted worldwide attention, selling to a phone bidder for CHF 231,750 (£157,594), over twice its low estimate.
Meanwhile, the historically important Omega Speedmaster that spent a record 33 hours in open space worn by renowned Cosmonaut Anatoly Artsebarsky sold for CHF 58,750 (£39,951), which was more than twice its estimate.
