Important watches and wristwatches

This spring's sale of Important Watches and Wristwatches on Wednesday 15th May 2002 at 14.30 features a number of items which demonstrate how watchmakers strive to produce more accurate and interesting pieces to capture the imagination and fulfill the needs of watch enthusiasts, collectors and buyers alike. This sale is composed of a fine selection of classical and modern masterpieces including pieces from notable manufacturers such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier and Audemars Piguet.

Patek Philippe
The highlight of the sale is a fine and rare pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphase, ref. 1518. Production of the 1518 began in 1941, making it the first chronograph wristwatch with perpetual calendar produced by Patek Philippe in series. Up until production of this reference ceased in 1954, only 281 examples were made. It was made in a variety of metals, though mainly in yellow gold. Thus examples such as this one in pink gold are very rare, reflected by the estimate of Sfr. 250'000 - 350'000 (lot 191).
A fine and rare gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with yellow gold dial and moonphase, ref. 1526, one of only 210 examples produced. The majority were made in yellow gold with silvered dials but the present example is very rare in having a gold dial (lot 190, estimate: Sfr. 130'000 - 160'000).
This sale also includes a rare automatic bracelet watch with silvered dial and applied gold luminous numerals, ref. 2526 (lot 175, estimate: Sfr 30'000 - 40'000) and a rare pink gold chonograph wristwatch with register and tachometer with pink dial (no. 863245), circa 1995 (lot 186, estimate: Sfr. 65'000 - 85'000).

Rolex, Cartier, IWC, Corum, Audemars Piguet, ...
The sale includes two Rolex chronographs `'Paul Newman'', both are rare stainless steel chronograph bracelet watches with registers, Cosmograph Daytona, `'Paul Newman'', made circa 1970 (lot 10, ref. 6239, estimate: Sfr. 25`000-35'000 and lot 11, ref. 6262, estimate: Sfr. 25`000-35'000).
Fine watches by Cartier include a rare and unusual gold slim circular watch with water resistant case, circa 1950 (lot 148, estimate: Sfr. 18`000-25`000) and a rare and unusual lady's platinum almond form watch, circa 1930, (lot 149, estimate: Sfr. 8`000-12`000).
IWC is represented with a limited edition tourbillon platinum self-winding perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphase and glazed back, Schaffhausen, `'Da Vinci Tourbillon'', no. 17/50, circa 1990 (lot 46, estimate: Sfr. 55`000-65`000). This piece is of particular interest, the glass on the reverse allowing to admire its movement.
A very unusual automatic quarter repeating automaton white gold wristwatch, by Corum, Anniversary number 1, 2000 (lot 48, estimate: Sfr. 30`000-50`000) is a perfect image for the firm's entry into the new millennium.
A fine slim gold self-winding tourbillon wristwatch Audemars Piguet, no 47, circa 1990 (lot 183, estimate: Sfr. 18`000-20`000) is a fine example of the tourbillon which is considered one of the most ingenious mechanical combinations. Audemars Piguet was the first watchmaker to produce tourbillon wristwatches in series.
Further historical interest is to be found in a gilt metal and enamel singing bird box, circa 1900. The box is decorated with exquisite landscape scenes on each side, (lot 132, estimate: Sfr. 5'000 - 7'000).

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Source:Sotheby's Press Release
April 2002