Christie's December Auction Highlights

Lot 79, pre-estimated at 40,000 - 60,000 US dollars, brought 242,500 US dollars at Christie’s auction, held on December 14 in New York. The unique Patek Philippe pocket watch dates back to 1913. Having been given a Geneva Observatory rating certificate in 1920, it came to its American retailer in 1921. Famous American collector Henry Graves acquired the pocket watch in 1925.

As stated by Christie’s sale notes, it is not exactly known how many timepieces were commissioned by Henry Graves from Patek Philippe. The American collector ordered about 30 timepieces in all. According to watch experts, there are 15 known timepieces that belonged to Mr. Graves. The pocket watch sold at Christie’s auction became the 16th. The timepiece demonstrates an engraving of the Graves family crest and motto that says, “Esse Quam Videri -To Be Rather Than to Seem”.

One more highlight of the auction, Lot 327, pre-estimated at 250,000 - 350,000 US dollars, Breguet ref. 3857, brought 434,500 US dollars. The modern Breguet wristwatch, crafted in platinum, impresses by its great variety of complications – it provides a minute repeater, perpetual calendar and tourbillon with jumping hours, retrograde date and leap year indication.

The Breguet wristwatch was produced in 1997. It represents one of three complicated timepieces created by the brand to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Louis Breguet.

You can find out complete results of the auction via the official Christie’s site.