New World Records Set By Antiquorum Sale

Antiquorum reached a remarkable result of 15,326,100 Swiss Francs (equal to 12.8 million dollars) for the "Important Collector's Wristwatches, Pocket Watches, Clocks and Horological Tools" auction organized this weekend at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva. The value of the sold wristwatches represented 136 per cent of the respective low estimate. The clocks and pocket watches represented 64 per cent of the lots sold.

The auction attracted a lot of passionate bidders, including active telephone bidders, and 330 registered internet bidders. USA bidders were very competitive, along with bidders from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and China.

The auction was highlighted by The Royal Presentation Mirror-Image Pair, a pair of enamel and pearl-set, extremely rare gold pocket watches dating back to 1815. Lot 730 brought amazing 2,608,000 Swiss Francs (2.175 million dollars), having set a new worldwide record.

The Patek Philippe Pink Gold Perpetual calendar chronograph, Ref. 1518, was one more star of the auction. It was sold for 1,376,000 Swiss Francs (1.086 million dollars), another world record.

The auction offered a few other Patek Philippe watches that also achieved outstanding results:

• A Pink Gold Ref. 2497 was sold for 620,000 Swiss Francs and a Pink Gold Ref. 530 was sold for 462,200 Swiss Francs.


• The Patek Philippe Platinum and Baguette Diamonds watch, Ref. 5004P, was acquired for 379,600 Swiss Francs, while the Celestial Wristwatch, Ref. 5102G was acquired for 344,200 Swiss Francs.


• The Patek Philippe 10 Days Tourbillon, Ref. 5101P fetched 249,800 Swiss Francs.


• A Ref. 3450 with a leap year indicator attained 226,200 Swiss Francs.

The Double Tourbillon 30° Vision, an 18K white gold timepiece created by Greubel Forsey, was sold for 238,000 Swiss Francs.

The Harry Winston Opus V crafted in platinum was sold for 226, 200 Swiss Francs.

The Audemars Piguet Perpetual Set N°1 Quantieme Perpetuel crafted in platinum and adorned with diamond was sold for 220,300 Swiss Francs.

Rolex watches also attracted a lot of active bidding:

• The Doctor's Cosmograph with Pulsations Dial, Ref. 6264, fetched 167,200 Swiss Francs.


• The Paul Newman Ref. 6264 in yellow gold was sold for 143,600 Swiss Francs, while the Paul Newman Ref. 6240 in stainless steel was sold for 137,700 Swiss Francs.

An outstanding pocket watch created by Charles Frodsham on J.P. Morgan's order in 1913, equipped with a minute repeating tourbillon and a split seconds chronograph, fetched 210,000 Swiss Francs.