Interviews
News Flash
Patek Philippe auctioned for a record $2.2 million at Sotheby's
12 May '08
4 min read
The undisputed highlight of this evening's sale was the 'Trossi Leggenda', an important and possibly unique oversized single button chronograph wristwatch by Patek Philippe, made between 1925 and 1932. The watch was formerly the property of Count Carlo Felice Trossi, an Italian aristocrat and one-time President of Scuderia Ferrari, who won the Italian and Swiss Grand Prix in 1947 and 1948 respectively.
The lot was offered together with a 1937 issue of Scuderia Ferrari Magazine, whose cover features Count Trossi wearing the watch on the outside of his shirt cuff – a trend which has been attributed to him. Bringing CHF 2,345,000 ($2,236,919), the lot became the most expensive wristwatch ever to be sold at Sotheby's.
Another important piece by Patek Philippe, a fine over-sized stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with register, no.862323, Ref. 530A, dated 1939, was extremely well-contested and after a protracted bidding war between two clients in the room, sold for CHF 1,057,000 ($1,008,283).
Among the other exceptional vintage complicated wristwatches by Patek Philippe which performed very well this evening were a perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon-phases and register, 1953, no.868538, Ref.2499J, which brought CHF 945,000 ($901,445) against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 450,000-650,000 and a fine gold centre seconds perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 1958, Ref. 2438/1J, which achieved CHF 385,000 ($367,255).
Further highlights in the sale included some fine examples of Rolex chronograph 'Paul Newman' Daytonas from various private collections. One example, in gold with registers, circa 1980 brought CHF 157,000 ($149,764) (est: CHF 50,000-80,000) and another one in stainless steel which sold for CHF 151,000 ($144,040), more than three times its pre-sale low estimate of CHF 40,000.
Among the pocket watches offered for sale were a historically significant example made by Patek Philippe, around 1878, from the family of its original owner, which sold for CHF 70,600 ($67,346) and a fine and exceptionally rare two train gold pocket watch with perpetual calendar, moon-phases, split seconds chronograph, two-time zones and minute repetition by Breguet, circa 1908, offered by the descendant of the original owner, which fetched CHF 133,000 ($126,870).
Finally, a spectacular rock crystal crucifix watch signed Fonnereau à la Rochelle, dated 1650, also performed well tonight, achieving CHF 133,000 ($126,870) against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 90,000-120,000.
The lot was offered together with a 1937 issue of Scuderia Ferrari Magazine, whose cover features Count Trossi wearing the watch on the outside of his shirt cuff – a trend which has been attributed to him. Bringing CHF 2,345,000 ($2,236,919), the lot became the most expensive wristwatch ever to be sold at Sotheby's.
Another important piece by Patek Philippe, a fine over-sized stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with register, no.862323, Ref. 530A, dated 1939, was extremely well-contested and after a protracted bidding war between two clients in the room, sold for CHF 1,057,000 ($1,008,283).
Among the other exceptional vintage complicated wristwatches by Patek Philippe which performed very well this evening were a perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon-phases and register, 1953, no.868538, Ref.2499J, which brought CHF 945,000 ($901,445) against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 450,000-650,000 and a fine gold centre seconds perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 1958, Ref. 2438/1J, which achieved CHF 385,000 ($367,255).
Further highlights in the sale included some fine examples of Rolex chronograph 'Paul Newman' Daytonas from various private collections. One example, in gold with registers, circa 1980 brought CHF 157,000 ($149,764) (est: CHF 50,000-80,000) and another one in stainless steel which sold for CHF 151,000 ($144,040), more than three times its pre-sale low estimate of CHF 40,000.
Among the pocket watches offered for sale were a historically significant example made by Patek Philippe, around 1878, from the family of its original owner, which sold for CHF 70,600 ($67,346) and a fine and exceptionally rare two train gold pocket watch with perpetual calendar, moon-phases, split seconds chronograph, two-time zones and minute repetition by Breguet, circa 1908, offered by the descendant of the original owner, which fetched CHF 133,000 ($126,870).
Finally, a spectacular rock crystal crucifix watch signed Fonnereau à la Rochelle, dated 1650, also performed well tonight, achieving CHF 133,000 ($126,870) against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 90,000-120,000.
Sotheby's Holdings Inc
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
