Sotheby's London final auction of 2008 has today achieved the second highest total ever for a watches auction at Sotheby's London. The result brings the 2008 total for watches sold at Sotheby's worldwide to $52.9
million.

Among the many highlights in the sale was a white gold Patek Philippe Automatic Astronomical Wristwatch that sold for £103,250 - £20,000 over the low estimate. This important and rare watch was just one of many timepieces by the watchmaker
Patek Philippe to achieve top prices –



• A yellow gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch sold for £64,850 and a watch of the same reference without moon phases realised £61,250 – both selling comfortably within estimate.

• In addition to these top prices, a unique George Daniels White Gold Millennium Watch – one of less than 10 ever made in white gold – neared top estimate to sell for £79,250.

After the sale, Alex Barter, Director and Deputy Worldwide Head of Sotheby's Watches Department, commented on the results: "We are thrilled with the results of today's auction, which achieved a total well in excess of its pre-sale low estimate of £1.1 million and represents the second highest total achieved for a Watches Sale ever at Sotheby's London.”

The result comes after a highly successful season of watch sales at Sotheby's –

• Geneva - The November sale totaled $5.8 million– the best result ever and which saw a Unique Patek Philippe, sell for $1.6 million and a Pink Patek Philippe, Ref. 2499 make $1.4 million.

• Hong Kong – In October the sale totaled $6.1 million included a single lot comprising of an Impressive Selection of 36 limited edition Omega watches each numbered ‘8’ that sold for $1.2 million.

• New York – In October the sale of Important Watches totaled $4.1 million and set a record for an American watch when A Gold Hunting Cased Perpetual Calendar Five-Minute Repeating Split Second Chronograph Watch by the American
Waltham Watch Co. sold for $266,500 against an estimate of $50,000 - 70,000.

Source: Sotheby's

www.sothebys.com

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