Antiquorum becomes the First Major Auction House to host a confined Vintage & Contemporary watch auction broadcasting online in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
GENEVA (March 23rd, 2020)
Last Saturday, March 21st, Antiquorum, the World’s Premier Auctioneers of Modern and Vintage Timepieces, established in Geneva in 1974 had to readjust its Geneva auction practices and offered an out-of-the ordinary auction.
“As the first horological auction house established in Geneva, it has always been part of Antiquorum philosophy to innovate. In 1974, nobody had thought that watches could be auctioned; today, in such an unprecedented situation it was challenging but important to accommodate with the context and to respect the fundamental stay at home priority” says Romain Réa – CEO & Watch Expert of Antiquorum.
The outstanding remarkable selection of the rarest modern & vintage timepieces totaled more than 3 million CHF in sales (CHF 3,281,374 incl buyers premium).
On Saturday, it is in the empty room of Geneva Antiquorum headquarters, that the auctioneer, Julien Schaerer, stepped on his podium facing the online broadcasting system and several experts holding their phones with registered collectors on the line, ready to go through the 294 lots entrusted.
The auction selection traces an exceptional illustration of watchmaking history as well as contemporary know-how of modern manufacturers.
At 2pm GMT+1, the auction started with the pocket watches and the interesting selection from the iconic 1994 Antiquorum auction “The art of Vacheron Constantin” (lot 14 to 26) and concluded with Lot 31, a very fine and rare Patek Philippe pocket watch perpetual calendar, minute repeater from the early 80’s sold for 57,500 CHF.
The auction went on with the fine vintage and modern watches selection. During this intense session, bidders from no less than 24 countries* flashed up on the online monitors.
The highly appealing Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC selections drove a lot of interest with an average hammered price above their high estimates.
Indeed, we can mention the noticeable result of lot 193, the Jaeger-LeCoultre ref. 201 Reverso “Chocolate dial” in steel, sold for more than twice its estimate and lots 197 to 200 military IWC references going for three to four times their low estimates of which lot 200, a superb IWC vintage diving watch yielding 16,250 CHF.
The always growing interest in Omega watches has been again demonstrated by lot 150, a Speedmaster in steel from 1968, hammered for more than twice its low estimate and lot 291, the attractive Omega Speedmaster “The Golden Panda” in yellow gold went for 52,500 CHF.
Rolex, which continues to be in great demand by collectors, represented 25 % of the lots entrusted for the sale. Collectors were thrilled by the Rolex ref 166660 Sea-Dweller Comex sold for 95,000 CHF (lot 265) and the top lot of the auction, lot 295, Rolex 6241 Daytona “Paul Newman” steel sold for 181,250 CHF.
It’s interesting to underline new trends and future collector pieces such as lot 280 & 281, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref 15002, a growing collecting potential for these watchmaking youngtimers with less than 25 years of existence. Lot 281 in yellow Gold got hammered for 87’500 CHF, a World Record for this reference produced in only 27 pieces.
The auction ended with most remarkable lots of which lot 293, a very fine and probably unique Patek Philippe ref 5131/1, which captured the heart of a collector for 150,000 CHF.
Antiquorum proves once again that interest in rare timepieces remains alive and strong.
ABOUT ANTIQUORUM
Antiquorum, The World’s Premier Auctioneers of Modern and Vintage Timepieces, established in Geneva in 1974, Antiquorum has carved its own unparalleled niche in the auction world by cultivating a thriving collector’s market for timepieces worldwide and consistently obtains the highest prices for timepieces, auctions timepieces with exceptional provenance and rarity and has set many world records.
Resolutely avant-garde, Antiquorum was the first auction house to offer full online service with the possibility to place absentee bids or register to bid in real time during the auction.
Antiquorum holds auctions in Geneva, Hong Kong and Monaco, with previews held in major cities worldwide. With its internationally recognized staff of watch experts providing unsurpassed expertise and services and its dedicated pursuit of innovative auction methods, Antiquorum continues, more than ever before, to make history in time.
For more information, please visit https://www.antiquorum.swiss.
ANTIQUORUM 2020 MARCH 21st AUCTION RESULTS TOP LOTS :
ROLEX, REF. 6241, DAYTONA “PAUL NEWMAN”, STEEL
Very fine and very rare stainless steel, manual winding chronograph wristwatch, black epoxy bezel with tachometer scale, black dial with 3 silver registers.
Sold for 181,250.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 150,000 – 200,000
USD 153,000 – 210,000
HKD 1,187,000 – 1,582,000
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 5131/1, WORLD TIME, CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DIAL, PROBABLY UNIQUE PIECE, YELLOW GOLD
Very fine and probably unique 18k yellow gold, world time, self- winding wristwatch with indication of 24 times zones, silver colour and polychrome cloisonné enamel dial displaying the European, African and American continent.
Sold for 150,000.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 120,000 – 180,000
USD 122,000 – 183,000
HKD 950,000 – 1,425,000
ROLEX, REF. 16660, SEA-DWELLER COMEX FULL SET, STEEL
Fine and very interesting stainless steel, self-winding diver’s wristwatch with black dial and date.
Sold for 95,000.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 45,000 – 65,000
USD 46,000 – 66,500
HKD 355,000 – 515,000
AUDEMARS PIGUET, REF. 15002, ROYAL OAK JUMBO, YELLOW GOLD Very rare 18k yellow gold, tonneau shaped, self-winding wristwatch with date at 3.
Sold for 87,500.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 40,000 – 80,000
USD 41,000 – 82,500
HKD 320,000 – 640,000
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 3700/1, JUMBO NAUTILUS, “SIGMA DIAL”, STEEL
Very fine and rare stainless steel, large, cushion-shaped, self-winding, wristwatch “Sigma” blue dial, date at 3.
Sold for 87,500.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 70,000 – 90,000
USD 72,000 – 92,500
HKD 560,000 – 720,000
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 1526, PERPETUAL CALENDAR MADE FOR GUILLERMIN, YELLOW GOLD
Very fine and extremely rare 18k yellow gold, manual-winding, perpetual calendar wristwatch.
Sold for 85,000.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 74,000 – 106,000
USD 75,300 – 108,000
HKD 585,000 – 838,000
AUDEMARS PIGUET, Ref. 15002, ROYAL OAK, STEEL
A Very fine and extremely rare stainless steel, tonneau shaped, self- winding wristwatch with date at 3.
Sold for 60,000.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 40,000 – 80,000
USD 40,700 – 81,500
HKD 317,000 – 634,000
PATEK PHILIPPE, HISTORICAL POCKET WATCH, WITH SIX HOROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING FIVE MINUTE-REPEATER AND PERPETUAL CALENDAR WITH MOON PHASES, PINK GOLD
Sold for 57,500.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 48,000 – 70,000
USD 48,900 – 71,000
HKD 380,000 – 550,000
OMEGA, REF. 3690.30.01, SPEEDMASTER “THE GOLDEN PANDA”, YELLOW GOLD
A very fine and extremely rare yellow gold, tonneau-shaped, manual- winding, chronograph wristwatch, with a silvery-white dial, black subdials and minutes scale recalling the face of a panda. Gold “baton” hands and black bezel with golden printed tachometer bezel.
Sold for 52,500.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 50,000 – 100,000
USD 52,000 – 104,000
HKD 400,000 – 800,000
VACHERON CONSTANTIN, REF. 43172, SKELETONIZED PERPETUAL CALENDAR, PINK GOLD
Very fine and elegant 18K pink gold, skeletonized, self-winding, perpetual calendar, moon phases wristwatch
Sold for 51,250.00 CHF
Estimations :
CHF 43,000 – 55,000
USD 44,000 – 56,500
HKD 340,000 – 440,000
