Messages: 2611 Location: East Coast, USA
Registered: November 2003
An advance preview: Exceptional watches from Antiquorum NY's 5 Dec Auction >>>
Mon, 12 November 2007 15:25
Dear Friends,
On December 5th, Antiquorum New York will hold its fourth and final auction of 2007 in which 400 watches and clocks will be auctioned.
A few of the impressive highlights of this sale:
* Five Patek Philippe minute repeating wristwatches
* An Audemars Piguet Grande Complication in platinum
* One of three Breguet Ref. 3857 minute repeating retrograding perpetual calendar wristwatches with tourbillon
* One of only two white gold Patek ref.3448 perpetual calendar wristwatches in white gold with "Senza Luna" dial
* An extremely rare pink gold Patek 2497 vintage perpetual calendar
Before my visit yesterday, Evan Zimmerman, Antiquorum NY's Managing Director, modestly mentioned I would be pleased with the watches of this sale. Pleased is an understatement...I was amazed by the quality, condition, rarity, and quantity of "show-stopping" wristwatches the Antiquorum team was able to find for this sale.
Thanks to the great people of Antiquorum NY who kindly allowed me to take and share photos of the following selection of 43watches for the TimeZone community in advance of the catalog's publication.
As I always say, if you're near an area where an auction preview will be held and are a fan of watches, I urge you to make your way to a preview to see these superb watches. There are watches available at nearly all price ranges beginning at under $1000, and Antiquorum provides a welcoming preview environment that allows one to examine and try on so many different watches with no pressure to purchase.
Please forgive the fingerprints, dust marks, and less-than-ideal lighting. All photos were taken handheld using a Canon Digital Rebel XT, 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, and the 580EX flash.
Lot 57: Patek Philippe Gondola Annual Calendar - Ref. 5135G
Released in 2004, the Ref. 5135 was the first complicated movement to be housed in the Gondola case. Housing the Patek calibre 324/205, it features an annual calendar, 24-hour indicator, and moonphase complications. The cal. 324/205 uses a 21K solid gold rotor and a Gyromax balance wheel with four masolettes (e.g., weights) mounted on four arms. The 18 karat white gold case measures 38 x 51 mm, with a thickness of 12 mm. This example was made in 2006 and includes its original boxes and papers.
Shimmering slate grey dial...
Applied white gold markers and art-deco styled numerals...
Estimate: $20,000 - 25,000
Lot 64: Rolex Oyster Chronograph - Ref. 6034
The reference 6034 was produced from the 1950s through the early 1960s. This stainless steel example features its original leaf hands, however the dial was refinished (very well) at some point in its history. I just love the look of the small sub-dials. The case measures 36 mm in diameter, with a thickness of 14 mm.
Estimate: $15,000 - 25,000
Lot 71: Blancpain Chronographe Rattrapante - Perpetual Calendar
One of a limited edition of 100 made in 2003, the Ref. 4286P is housed in a massive, 42 mm platinum case. The caliber 56F9A is equipped with both perpetual calendar and split-seconds chronograph complications. The multi-level opaline dial, which looks very similar to the "1735" grande complication, has applied white gold Roman numerals and white gold feuille hands. With a thickness of 18 mm, this is a very substantial watch!
The opaline dial has a lovely grained texture...
Stepped bezel...
Co-axial pusher for the split-seconds chronograph...
Estimate: $30,000 - 40,000
Lot 84: Audemars Piguet Equation du Temps
The Equation du Temps features a full perpetual calendar, determines the equation of time, and indicates the daily sunrise and sunset times for, in this case, New York as indicated on the bezel. The slate grey guilloché dial uses applied luminous markers and luminous white "alpha" hands. The movement is based on the legendary AP cal. 2120, and uses a free-sprung balance spring and variable inertia-type balance wheel. Housed in a 39mm "Jules Audemars"-style case, with a well-proportioned thickness of 12 mm.
Partially skeletonized rotor...
White gold-rimmed sub-dials...
The equation of time indicator hand, and the leap year indicator (at 1:00)...
Estimate: $35,000 - 40,000
Lot 102: Patek Philippe Coin Dress Watch
Made in the 1960s, this example of the reference 802 is housed in a US $20 Saint Gauden's gold coin dated 1908. It uses the ultra-thin caliber 175, with 18 jewels and stamped with the Geneva seal.
Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000
Lot 104: Vacheron Constantin "Poche Surprise"
A beautiful 18 karat gold and enamel "watch clock" made in the 1930's by Verger Freres, the case hides a Vacheron Constantin watch within its shutters. When the two sides are simultaneously pressed inwards, the shutters open to expose the watch. A wonderfully-made art deco purse/desk watch.
Exquisite enamel work (a minor repair can be seen on the lower left corner of the left shutter)...
The decorated sides are pushed to open the shutters...
The Vacheron watch, with gold applied numerals hidden within...
Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000
Lot 125: Patek Philippe, Ref. 492
This cal. 9'"-90-based vintage Patek features a wonderful, and highly desirable, curved and stepped rectangular case. The original, patinated, silvered dial, missing one of the 1's at 11 o'clock, has applied yellow gold Breguet numerals and gold feuille hands. Made in 1939, it appears to have never been polished. The case's dimensions are 23 x 43 mm, with a thickness of 9 mm.
Presented in 1939 to what must have been a great "boss"...
Estimate: $10,000 - 15,000
Lot 126: Patek Philippe, Ref. 2520
This very large, 18 karat yellow gold ref. 2520 was produced beginning in 1952. With large, curved lugs, the rectangular case measures 29 x 43 mm, with a thickness of 10 mm - quite substantial especially considering the era in which it was produced.
Tastefully engraved caseback...
Lug details...
Slender faceted baton hands and applied markers...
The beautiful, cal. 9'"-90 movement appears to be in superb condition...
An early version of the Gyromax balance, with masolettes fitted into the rim of the balance...
Black polished capped escape wheel jewel and Geneva seal...
Estimate: $30,000 - 40,000
Lot 127: Patek Philippe, Ref. 2526 in Pink Gold
One of the most timeless and "collectible" vintage time-only Patek wristwatches, the Ref. 2526 was the first watch to use the firm's very first automatic movement, the legendary cal. 12-600AT. The early generation enamel dial has flares around the holes into which the markers are sunk. The relatively low estimate is due to the presence of a couple minor hairline cracks on the dial. Measuring 36 mm in diameter with thickness of 12 mm, this pink gold example dates to 1954.
Circular-brushed caseback...
Original "Double-P" crown...
Gorgeous, curved lugs and bezel...
Curved, pink-gold dauphine minute hand to correct for the curvature of the acrylic crystal...
Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
Lot 128: Patek Philippe, "Manta-Ray", Ref. 2554
The inspiration for the case used in the Patek 5100 "10-Days" made in the year 2000, this example of a ref. 2554 was made in 1956. The uniquely shaped 18 karat yellow gold rectangular case measures 28 x 40 mm, with a thickness of 8 mm, and houses the tonneau-shaped caliber 9'"-90 movement.
Complex curves everywhere on the case...
Chemplevé enamel print...
Estimate: $18,000 - 23,000
Lot 130: Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 3448
One of 586 total 3448s produced from 1962 through 1982, this freshly serviced yellow gold example was made in 1969. Housing the legendary cal. 27-460 Q, the case measures 37 mm in diameter, with a thickness of 12 mm. Even though it lacks a leap-year indicator, the 3448 is indeed a full perpetual calendar.
Serviced by Patek Philippe...
Early 3448s such as this example featured chemplevé enamel print on the dial...
Stunning blue lacquer used on the moonphase disk...
Crisp hallmark on the underside of a lug...
The faceted, applied markers and dauphine hands sparkle beautifully...
Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000
Lot 138: Girard-Perregaux Chronomètre
A beautiful pivoted detent chronometer dating to the early 1900s, the bridge layout looks very similar to their famous triple-bridge tourbillons.
With its original box and keys...
An ornate, multi-color gold dial and beautiful blued Breguet-style hands...
The tip of the regulator is wonderfully shaped...
A view of the escapement...notice the gold pivot jewel caps...
- Paul Boutros