Christie's of New York saw a successful finale to the watch auction that took place on December 17 with 365 lots or rather "important watches", which reached a total of $12.926,175 and the sale of 91% for lot and 95% in value.
The top lot of the sale was an outstanding stainless steel Rolex reference 8171 “Padellone,” which sold for $1.145.000, quadrupling its estimate of $250.000 – $350.000. The award came after a massive bidding war that spanned four countries, setting a world record ever for a Rolex 8171. This result combined with the auction held on June 11th, also in New York, leads to ending 2013 with a total of over US$20,8 million for the watch department. After a year that saw record figures across Geneva, Hong Kong and New York's Salerooms, 2013 marks Christie's eighth consecutive year as the market leader in watch auctions.
Aurel Bacs, international head of watches, commented: “Today's auction was a truly memorable grand finale thus defining 2013 as the most successful year for watch auctions, with never-before-seen objects orchestrated by a house of auctions in history. Bidders from all over the world gathered to compete by carefully selecting the high quality selection of collector's watches. The global character of the watch market was further demonstrated by the participation of ten collectors from four continents, who were featured in the top ten lots of the sale.
Top Lots:
ROLEX AN EXTREMELY RARE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AND DIAMOND-SET AUTOMATIC TRIPLE CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES – SIGNED ROLEX, PERPETUAL, PRECISION, REF. 8171, CASE NO. 902'514, CIRCA 1953 Sold for $1,145,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND TACHOMETER SCALE… SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 2499, MOVEMENT NO. 868'748, CASE NO. 2'611'726, MANUFACTU…Asked for 725,000 USD
RICHARD MILLE A FINE AND RARE LIMITED EDITION TITANIUM, CARBON COMPOSITE, AND MONOBLOC SKELETONIZED WRISTWATCH WITH TOURBILL… SIGNED RICHARD MILLE, RAFAEL NADAL MODEL, REFERENCE RM027-01 AK CA, NO. 14/50, MOVEMENT NO. 0…Awarded for $605,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A FINE AND RARE OVERSIZED 18K PINK GOLD AUTOMATIC MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PH…SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 5074, MOVEMENT NO. 1'906'192, CASE NO. 4'376'375, MANUFAC…Asked for USD 461,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A FINE AND VERY RARE STAINLESS STEEL CUSHION-SHAPED SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERAL…SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 5950, MOVEMENT NO. 5'251'168, CASE NO. 4'541'758, APPROX. 2…Asked for USD 413,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A FINE AND RARE 18K GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES, GOLD-COLORED DIAL, AND O… SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 5970, MOVEMENT NO. 3'049'183, CASE NO. 4'458'268, ABOUT 2…Asked for $353,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A VERY FINE AND RARE 18K GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES – SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 1518, MOVEMENT NO. 863'712, CASE NO. 644'109, MANUFACTURE…Asked for $341,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A VERY FINE AND RARE PLATINUM SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE AND BOX, FACTORY… SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 5959, MOVEMENT NO. 3'647'001, CASE NO. 4'337'077, MANUFAC…Asked for $293,000
CHANEL A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND CERAMIC LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH SET WITH DIAMONDS AND RUBIES – SIGNED CHANEL, PARIS, J12 EDITIONS EXCLUSIVES MODEL, REFERENCE H2038, NO. 04/05, CASE NO. I….Awarded for 293,000
JOHN BENNETT A VERY RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL 18K GOLD HUNTER CASE MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH CLOCK WATCH W…SIGNED SIR JOHN BENNETT, LTD, MAKERS TO THE LATE QUEEN VICTORIA, 65 CHEAPSIDE, LONDON, MOVEME…Awarded for $269,000
PATEK PHILIPPE AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE 18K GOLD WRISTWATCH WITH CENTER SECONDS AND CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DIAL- SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 2481, MOVEMENT NO. 702'516, CASE NO. 678'589, MANUFACTURE…Asked for $221,000
Vacheron Constantin A SUPERB LADY'S 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND BRACELET WRISTWATCH – SIGNED VACHERON CONSTANTIN, LADY KALLA, REF. 17701/710G, MOVEMENT NO. 591'357, CASE NO. 708'0…Asked for $221,000
PATEK PHILIPPE A LARGE AND RARE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC ASTRONOMICAL WRISTWATCH WITH SKY CHART, PHASES AND ORBIT OF THE MOON INCL…SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 5102, CELESTIAL MODEL, MOVEMENT NO. 3'580'055, CASE NO. 4…Sold for $209,000
