This autumn the grand art of watchmaking will take centre-stage at Sotheby’s. Following hot on the heels of the landmark sale of “The George Daniels Horological Collection” which takes place in London on 6th November 2012, Sotheby’s Geneva auction of Important Watches will be held at the Hotel Beau-Rivage on 13th November.

This season, Sotheby’s Europe specialists, Geoffroy Ader and Thomas Perazzi have assembled an exclusive selection of vintage and modern wristwatches covering a wide range of prestigious brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, IWC and Panerai. Comprising over 300 lots, estimated between CHF 6 and 8 million, the offering is also highlighted by rare models of complicated timepieces.

“This sale is a celebration of elegance and style” commented Geoffroy Ader, Head of Watches, Sotheby’s Europe. “It includes a selection of rare vintage and modern timepieces which demonstrate that watchmaking falls into the realm of art. Among highlights are two minute-repeating wristwatches by Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin which capture the essence of vintage wristwatches. These watches are most probably unique models which were made by the most important watchmakers in Geneva in the 1940s and 1950s, one of the richest period of modern Swiss horological history”.

Thomas Perazzi, Deputy Director of the European Watch Department added: “This autumn’s sale has been put together to meet the strong demand for timepieces of high quality and rarity and most notably rare Rolex vintage chronographs. I am especially delighted to present a very rare model of Rolex ref. 6238 with pulsometer scale. The reference 6238 was produced in few examples over a very short period, between 1964 and 1967. The watch in the sale is in exceptional condition and according to our research, it is only the fourth example of this reference with a pulsometer dial ever to appear on the market.”

IMPORTANT WATCHES

Sotheby’s Geneva,

tel. +44 22 908 48 00

Hôtel Beau-Rivage

13, quai du Mont-Blanc,

1205 Geneva

Public Exhibition

10,11,12 November 2012

From 10am until 6pm

Sale

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Session 1: 10am (lots 1-158)

Session 2: 2pm (lots 159-313)

To view the auction’s e-catalogue and discover all of the lots, click HERE

Source: Sotheby’s