Important Watches & Clocks at Sotheby's NY - 10 June 2013
Important Watches & Clocks
At Sotheby’s New York
FEATURING PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF
ROBERT HOWARD AND JAIME ORTIZ-PATIÑO
New York, 10 June 2013
The final watch auction of Sotheby’s record-setting spring season* will take place in New York on 10 June 2013. In addition to offering examples of the most important references from iconic firms – ranging from vintage timepieces to modern complicated watches – the well-rounded sale is distinguished by property from the collection of inventor and businessman Robert Howard as well as the estate of philanthropist and famed golf course designer Jaime Ortiz-Patiño. The Important Watches & Clocks auction will be on exhibition in Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries from 8 – 10 June, with the sale beginning at 2pmon the 10th.
MODERN & VINTAGE PATEK PHILIPPE
The auction is led by an exceptional Platinum Automatic Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Tonneau Wristwatch with Retrograde Date and Moon-Phases, circa 1997, Ref 5013P from legendary firm Patek Philippe (above, est. $350/450,000**). The Ref 5013 was launched in 1992, and is one of the most complex wristwatches ever made by Patek, with a total of 515 parts. To celebrate the company’s 150th Anniversary in 1989, the firm produced a minute repeating wristwatch, the first to feature an automatic caliber. This innovation led to the development of the Ref 5013, the first minute-repeating wristwatch to feature an automatic movement combined with perpetual calendar with retrograde date indication.
Five pieces celebrate two of the most sought-after complicated Patek Philippe models, the Refs 3970 and 3971. These pieces followed in the proud tradition of perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches, embodying Patek’s commitment to elegant horological mastery. Sotheby’s is privileged to offer examples of these iconic models in yellow gold, white gold and pink gold, with estimates ranging from $60,000 to $120,00 – representing a rare and exceptional opportunity for collectors.
The selection of vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches on offer are led by An Historically Interesting and Rare 18K Yellow Gold 8-Day Wristwatch, Retailed by Brock & Co., Los Angeles, 1931 (est. $100/150,000). According to Sotheby’s research, only four Patek Philippe 8 Day wristwatches are known, and of these only two have ever been seen – the other two examples are only known in archival photographs. The 8-Day model would later inspire the 10-Day wristwatch, launched in 2000.
PROMINENT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
The June sale will offer an impressive selection of more than 60 pocket watches, form watches, automata, and pieces made for the Chinese, Indian and South American export markets from the collection of philanthropist and businessman Robert Howard – inventor of the dot matrix printer. The collection is led by A Fine and Rare Gold, Diamond, Enamel and Pearl-Set Musical Watch in the form of a harp, made circa 1820 by Bessière & Schneider (est. $100/150,000). Bessière and Schneider remained in partnership for a short time, but are credited with a small group of extremely high-quality enamel work, which also includes boxes painted as flowers, animals or baskets of fruit.
The Howard Collection also is highlighted by a unique Geographical and Astronomical Watch No. 1, invented and constructed circa 1875 by the eccentric engineer, astronomer, cartographer, philosopher, author and musicologist J.N. Adorno (est. $70/100,000). Adorno was best known for his writings on Utopian societies described in his book Introduction to the Harmony of the Universe, published in 1851. The watch was last sold at Sotheby’s Parke Bernet in 1980, having been consigned from a private Mexican collection.
A diverse group of ten timepieces from the estate of the late Jaime Ortiz-Patiño – noted collector and benefactor, grandson of Bolivian “Tin King” Simon I and acclaimed golf course designer – offers important timepieces that exemplify the best of watchmaking from the 1820s to today. The collection features A Fine and Rare 18K Pink Gold Perpetual Calendar Split Seconds Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon-Phases, circa 1996, Ref 5004R by Patek Philippe (est. $150/250,000). The Ref 5004 is the ultimate in understated horology, and the present example belongs to the first series of this model. Composed of 407 parts, the watch houses a caliber CHR 27-70Q and ingeniously combines a split seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar functions. Additional highlights from the group include timepieces by Vacheron Constantin and Cartier as well as rare novelty forms.
MODERN COMPLICATED WRISTWATCHES
A group of important modern wristwatches from an American collector is highlighted by A Fine, Rare and Massive Limited Edition Platinum Tourbillon Wristwatch, 2011, No 004/100 by A. Lange & Söhne with a Richard Lange Tourbillon ‘Pour le Mérite’ (est. $100/150,000). The June sale represents the first time that a platinum version of this model has been offered at auction. In April of this year, Sotheby’s Hong Kong sold a honey gold version – also the first of its series to be offered at auction – which sold for $374,359 above a high estimate of $232,000.
IMPORTANT VINTAGE ROLEX
A strong group of vintage Rolex wristwatches features a number of important examples: A Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Triple Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch, circa 1961, Ref 6236 is one of the most complicated examples that Rolex ever produced, commonly known as the ‘Jean-Claude Killy’ after the French Olympic and World Cup ski champion (est. $60/80,000); A Rare 14K Yellow Gold Chronograph Wristwatch with Registers and Bracelet, circa 1964, Ref 6241, an example of wristwatches by Rolex with ‘exotic’ dials that became known as ‘Paul Newman’ models, as the actor is presumed to have worn one in the 1969 auto racing film Winning (est. $50/70,000); and A Stainless Steel Automatic Center Seconds Wristwatch with Date and Bracelet, circa 1972, Ref 1680 ‘Red’ Submariner’ is on offer from the collection of American actor Richard Burgi (est. $6/8,000).
* Sotheby’s brought its highest-ever total for any watch auction in April of 2013, when the Hong Kong sale of Important Watches including Magnificent Clocks from an Important Private Collection totaled $28.4 million. In 2012, Sotheby’s achieved its highest-ever annual total for a year of watch sales, with $85 million.
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**Estimates do not include buyer’s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
