On 13 May 2018, in the Sotheby’s Sale of Important Watches in Geneva, an extraordinarily rare Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ wristwatch, reference 6239, made in 1969, with highly-coveted ‘tropical’ subsidiary dials was the star. The iconic wristwatch eclipsed the pre-sale estimate to sell for CHF 951,000 / 947,776 (estimate CHF 200,000 – 400,000 / $208,000-416,000).
Rolex’s ‘Paul Newman’ Daytonas are widely recognized as the most highly coveted vintage Rolex models on the market. The colour of this watch’s three subsidiary dials – originally black when the watch was made – has naturally faded to a beautiful rich toffee brown.
Combining watchmaking prowess with the savoir-faire of high jewellery, two watches signed by prestigious jewellery houses achieved among the highest prices in the auction.
A Superb Diamond-Set Skeletonised Tourbillon Wristwatch by Graff, made in 2013 and adorned with 188 diamonds sold for CHF 555,000 / $ 553,119 (lot 63, estimate CHF 150,000 – 250,000 / $156,000 – 260,000).
This watch is distinguished by its stunning fully skeletonised dial. The complete set by Graff includes a diamond ring, platinum and diamond cufflinks and pen.
A Rare Tourbillon Wristwatch in Rose Gold by Chopard, 2017 was sold for CHF 160,000 / $159,458 (lot 245, estimate CHF 80,000 – 120,000 / $83,500 – 125,000).
The manual winding wristwatch with perpetual calendar was part of a complete set including a diamond ring, diamond and onyx cufflinks and a pen.
Two rare pocket watches also stood out among the most highly-prized lots.
An Open-Faced Perpetual Calendar Pocket Watch with Moon-Phases by Patek Philippe produced in 1947 sold for CHF 157,500 / $ 156,966 (lot 140, estimate CHF 120,000 –220,000 / $125,000 – 229,000).
Featuring a highly complicated minute repeater movement of the finest quality, it is considered as one of only around 80 pieces produced.
A Very Rare and Early Pocket Watch by Patek, Czapek and Cie. soared to more than six times the estimate to achieve CHF 65,000 / $ 64,780 (lot 135, estimate CHF 7,000 – 10,000 / $7,300 – 10,400).
Made in 1842, this is one of the earliest watches which employed the stem-winding system and one of only 42 examples of its kind by Frantisek Czapek and Count Anton de Patek.
