Fine Watches and Wristwatches at Bonhams New York
Serious collectors are eagerly awaiting the December 17th sale of Fine Watches and Wristwatches scheduled to take place at Bonhams New York. Consisting of just over 100 lots, the sale includes pieces by the most desirable names in watch design including Ulysse Nardin, Cartier, and Patek Philippe.
In fact, it is a fine and rare 18K gold automatic wristwatch by Patek Philippe, Ref. 3448 which will undoubtedly be amongst the most sought after lots of the sale. Sold in 1968, it is unusual in the fact that it was retailed by Cartier. With a perpetual calendar it also features adjusted automatic movement with Geneva seal, gold winding rotor, and free sprung gyromax balance with overcoiled spring. Considered one of the most desirable of Patek Philippe watches, this exceptional lot is estimated at $100,000-120,000.
Also to be noted, is the offering of a rare, circa 1670, pre balance spring, English, silver pair case Astronomical verge watch made by Henricus Harpur / Londini. Even though it was made 300 years prior to the aforementioned Patek Philippe watch- it features the same astronomical indications as seen on the Patek Philippe piece. With a year calendar indicating date, month, sign of the Zodiac and time of sunrise along with further indications for day of the week, and the age and aspect of the moon with the corresponding time of moonrise, this extraordinarily advanced watch is estimated at $12,000-15,000.
Of great interest will also be a single owner collection comprised of over 20 vintage watches ranging from the 1930s to the 1990s. Perhaps the most coveted piece in the collection is a fine platinum automatic world time wristwatch by Patek Philippe, Ref. 5110. The watch boasts a 24 hour day/night chapter ring enclosing a blue guilloché center with raised baton 12-hour numerals and polished hands, all within a further band listing numerous cities around the world. Offered with a presentation case, certificate, sales receipt, and wallet with literature, the lot is expected to fetch $25,000-30,000.
A fine, fresh to market Ulysse Nardin watch is sure to attract intense collector interest. The large, platinum, skeletonized wristwatch is number 14 out of a limited edition of only 18. The Maxi Skeletonwatch, features skeletonized manual winding movement pierced to reveal the escapement and blued steel breguet hands. Estimated at $10,000-12,000 it is offered with a wood presentation box along with outer packaging, a guarantee, and instruction booklet.
Another Patek Philippe, certain to draw attention is a fine and rare stainless steel anti-magnetic "Amagnetic" wristwatch, Ref. 3417A, retailed by Gübelin in the 1960's. Signed "Amagnetic", with applied baton numerals, subsidiary seconds, and polished hands within a monogrammed back case it is estimated at $12,000-18,000.
The sale also includes a nice selection of ladies bracelet watches. Standing out amongst these is a fine, diamond and platinum Patek Philippe piece. Quite possibly the only one to have been produced, it is estimated at $6,000-8,000.
Other lots to note are a Patek Philippe 18K rose gold small, early Calatrava wristwatch with a black dial (est. $4,000-6,000) and an 18K gold Rolex bracelet watch accented with rubies and diamonds (est. $7,000-9,000).
Viewings are scheduled at Bonhams’ San Francisco showrooms from November 20-22 and the Los Angeles showrooms from December 4-6. Viewings will begin at the Madison Avenue galleries on December 12th until the sale date of December 17th. The sale will take place at 1PM EST and will be simulcaste to the San Francisco and Los Angeles galleries as well. The illustrated auction catalog for the sale will be online atwww.bonhams.com/us in the weeks preceding the preview and auction. For more information about the department, please visit www.bonhams.com/watches.
