After the successful auctions of last year, Christie’s New York Spring/Summer season promises to maintain the momentum with an Online sale from 30 May to 9 June, together with a Live sale to be held on 6 June.
Christie’s New York Important Watches Live Auction 6 June 2023
The Live auction’s show stoppers are two spectacular, fresh-to-market timepieces from the same carefully curated family collection:-
Lot 44: A Patek Philippe Nautilus model Ref. 3700/1 o of a World War II Italian hero known for his valiant resistance against Mussolini’s regime before he became a successful businessman in the leather business.
This Patek Philippe Nautilus watch is fresh to market and comes from the family of the original owner.
Born in Italy in the early 1920s, the original owner of this timepiece grew up in Sardinia. When the Second World War broke out, he joined the fight against Mussolini’s regime in the Alps.
Following the war, having lost most of his family, he decided to study industrial design and left Europe to embark for South America. There he joined a company in the leather business, and having spent many years designing and consulting for different tanneries, he was gifted this Patek Philippe in recognition of his dedication and loyalty.
This watch developed a distinctive ‘tropical’ patina under the South American sun. Parts of the silvered blue dial have become golden and sparkle in the light. The dial is also signed by famed retailer Gübelin.
Estimate: US$ 100,000-200,000
Lot 40: The thinnest Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Perpétuel ever, one of the earliest known examples of the Ref. 5554/25554ST Royal Oak to be brought to auction.
Also fresh to market and from the family of the original owner, this Audemars Piguet is one of the earliest known Ref. 5554/25554ST Royal Oaks to be publicly offered. Its number: 21.
The ‘Extract from the Archives’ confirms the watch was purchased on the 6th of June, 1984. With a case measuring 39mm in a diameter, it is incredibly slim at just 7.5mm, which makes this watch the thinnest Royal Oak Quantième Perpétuel produced to this day.
Being the first of its kind, the silver dial on this model eschews a leap year indicator, providing a balanced, uniform aesthetic complementing the beguiling, multi-faceted case. Powering the timepiece is the Audemars Piguet ultra-thin calibre 2120/2800. Estimate: US$ 150,000-250,000.
All pieces included in the New York Important Watches Live sale will be displayed for public viewing during Christie’s Luxury Marquee week at the Rockefeller Center between June 2nd and June 5th.
Christie’s Watches Online: The New York Edit Online Auction, 30 May – 9 June 2023
Christie’s New York Online Watches auction will be going live for bidding from 30 May to 9 June, and will offer esteemed timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Breguet and many more.
