Modern Watches
1981 Do not miss the Leap Year !
2013 SOLD 1.62 MCHF including premium
The Reference 3448 by Patek Philippe had a long and successful career, from 1962 to 1985. Its main feature was to jointly offer the automatic perpetual calendar and the moon phases. Made in 1968, an exceptional unit in pink gold was sold CHF 2.1 million including premium by Christie's on 14 November 2011.
A new challenge for the engineers is to take into account the leap year in the calendar. Tests are done in the 1970s. Recently discovered, a watch made in 1981 was probably the first one to be offered for sale with this improvement. The new gadget is visible through a small opening between three and four.
Technically, this is a 3448 in white gold but in fact it was made on special order with other unusual features: the day of the week and the month are in Italian, and the hour marks are black coated to enhance the readability.
This unique piece has been very little used and is in excellent condition. It is estimated CHF 800K, for sale by Christie's in Geneva on May 13.
In 1982, pleased with the achievement, Patek Philippe released a variant of the 3448, reference 3450, including the leap year among its basic characteristics.
POST SALE COMMENT
The history of Patek Philippe is marked with such wonderful pieces, often made to order, opening up new combinations of complications. This watch was sold CHF 1.62 million including premium.
A new challenge for the engineers is to take into account the leap year in the calendar. Tests are done in the 1970s. Recently discovered, a watch made in 1981 was probably the first one to be offered for sale with this improvement. The new gadget is visible through a small opening between three and four.
Technically, this is a 3448 in white gold but in fact it was made on special order with other unusual features: the day of the week and the month are in Italian, and the hour marks are black coated to enhance the readability.
This unique piece has been very little used and is in excellent condition. It is estimated CHF 800K, for sale by Christie's in Geneva on May 13.
In 1982, pleased with the achievement, Patek Philippe released a variant of the 3448, reference 3450, including the leap year among its basic characteristics.
POST SALE COMMENT
The history of Patek Philippe is marked with such wonderful pieces, often made to order, opening up new combinations of complications. This watch was sold CHF 1.62 million including premium.
1982 The Equation of the Astronauts
2019 SOLD for £ 3.6M including premium
Throughout his career George Daniels has imitated and improved the most daring complications of pocket watches, often taking Breguet as an example. For the sidereal hour, his model was George Margetts, a contemporary of Breguet who worked in London. Daniels however did not emulate another remarkable specialty of Margetts, the tidal dial.
The equation of time is the difference between the apparent time, which can also be read on a sundial, and the sidereal time which takes its reference in the position of the fixed stars. This difference is an annual cycle due to the obliquity of the Earth and the ellipticity of its orbit.
The first pocket watch in which Daniels included the equation of time is his ninth opus, Elsom II, in 1975.
George Daniels was known for his wit. In 1979 he states that the accuracy of measurement obtained by Margetts, 1.8 seconds per year, is not sufficient for the control of time by an astronaut on his way to Mars. An astronomer from Cambridge University calculates for him a ratio between the two escapement wheels that will reduce the variance to 0.4 seconds per year.
The first pocket watch incorporating these new data is George Daniels' fifteenth opus, the Space Traveller, which also offers the annual calendar and the phases of the Moon. In 1982, shortly after finishing his Space Traveller, Daniels sold it to a collector, probably to meet a prior commitment.
Frustrated that he had parted away from his Space Traveller I, Daniels realized in 1983 the Space Traveller II, on which he added a chronograph and a thermometer. He did not let go this specimen that allowed him to behave like an astronaut in the salons. His fourth and last pocket watch to include the equation of time is the Grand Complication, in 1987.
The Space Traveller I is estimated £ 700K for sale by Sotheby's in London on July 2, lot 143. Space Traveller II was sold for £ 3.2M including premium by Sotheby's on September 19, 2017. Grand Complication was sold for CHF 2.4M including premium by Phillips on May 11, 2019.
The equation of time is the difference between the apparent time, which can also be read on a sundial, and the sidereal time which takes its reference in the position of the fixed stars. This difference is an annual cycle due to the obliquity of the Earth and the ellipticity of its orbit.
The first pocket watch in which Daniels included the equation of time is his ninth opus, Elsom II, in 1975.
George Daniels was known for his wit. In 1979 he states that the accuracy of measurement obtained by Margetts, 1.8 seconds per year, is not sufficient for the control of time by an astronaut on his way to Mars. An astronomer from Cambridge University calculates for him a ratio between the two escapement wheels that will reduce the variance to 0.4 seconds per year.
The first pocket watch incorporating these new data is George Daniels' fifteenth opus, the Space Traveller, which also offers the annual calendar and the phases of the Moon. In 1982, shortly after finishing his Space Traveller, Daniels sold it to a collector, probably to meet a prior commitment.
Frustrated that he had parted away from his Space Traveller I, Daniels realized in 1983 the Space Traveller II, on which he added a chronograph and a thermometer. He did not let go this specimen that allowed him to behave like an astronaut in the salons. His fourth and last pocket watch to include the equation of time is the Grand Complication, in 1987.
The Space Traveller I is estimated £ 700K for sale by Sotheby's in London on July 2, lot 143. Space Traveller II was sold for £ 3.2M including premium by Sotheby's on September 19, 2017. Grand Complication was sold for CHF 2.4M including premium by Phillips on May 11, 2019.
1982-1983 George Daniels as a Sidereal Traveller
2017 SOLD for £ 3.2M including premium
On November 6, 2012, Sotheby's sold the collection of George Daniels including historical timepieces and watches from his invention. I discussed the latter group as pasted below :
Fascinated by watches, George Daniels chose to devote his professional life to them. A repair craftsman of great skill, he became a specialist of Breguet and then made his own watches with an increasing complexity.
In the era of quartz watches, Daniels managed to demonstrate that mechanical watches could still be fully competitive. His invention of the co-axial escapement which suppresses the need for a lubricant is one of the most important advances in watchmaking since Breguet.
In a career that began in 1970, Daniels has completed 37 watches made entirely in his workshop from elementary components to final assembly. Sotheby's devoted an exhibition to them in London in 2006.
Daniels was a lover of great mechanics. The remarkable Bentley Blower racing car sold for £ 5M including premium by Bonhams on 29 June 2012 came from his deceased estate.
I am listing below four watches from his personal work. These 2012 results include the premium.
Made circa 1982, the Space Travellers' watch including a double-wheel escapement was sold for £ 1.33M.
Made around 1987 the Grand Complication watch is a very good example of Daniels' co-axial escapement. It was sold for £ 915K.
As its name suggests, the First wristwatch made circa 1991 is a rare example of a wristwatch incorporating the co-axial escapement. It was sold for £ 385K. A more recent watch made in 1994 was sold for £ 660K over an estimate of £ 300K.
The Space Travellers' watch comes back to Sotheby's in London on September 19, lot 121 estimated £ 1.2M. It is a great opportunity to revisit its remarkable complication. Made in 1982 the only other example is simpler, without a chronograph function : the 2012 catalogue reminded that it was sold for CHF 220K by Sotheby's on November 17, 1988.
Based on a different denting of the two wheels Daniels had been able to realize a watch compensating at the will of the user the difference of 3.555 minutes per day between solar and sidereal times. Well aware that it was a sensational horological feat Dr Daniels exhibited it sometimes at events as a dress watch, stating that it was the suitable instrument to control the time in a long telephone conversation during a trip to Mars.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's before the 2012 sale.
Fascinated by watches, George Daniels chose to devote his professional life to them. A repair craftsman of great skill, he became a specialist of Breguet and then made his own watches with an increasing complexity.
In the era of quartz watches, Daniels managed to demonstrate that mechanical watches could still be fully competitive. His invention of the co-axial escapement which suppresses the need for a lubricant is one of the most important advances in watchmaking since Breguet.
In a career that began in 1970, Daniels has completed 37 watches made entirely in his workshop from elementary components to final assembly. Sotheby's devoted an exhibition to them in London in 2006.
Daniels was a lover of great mechanics. The remarkable Bentley Blower racing car sold for £ 5M including premium by Bonhams on 29 June 2012 came from his deceased estate.
I am listing below four watches from his personal work. These 2012 results include the premium.
Made circa 1982, the Space Travellers' watch including a double-wheel escapement was sold for £ 1.33M.
Made around 1987 the Grand Complication watch is a very good example of Daniels' co-axial escapement. It was sold for £ 915K.
As its name suggests, the First wristwatch made circa 1991 is a rare example of a wristwatch incorporating the co-axial escapement. It was sold for £ 385K. A more recent watch made in 1994 was sold for £ 660K over an estimate of £ 300K.
The Space Travellers' watch comes back to Sotheby's in London on September 19, lot 121 estimated £ 1.2M. It is a great opportunity to revisit its remarkable complication. Made in 1982 the only other example is simpler, without a chronograph function : the 2012 catalogue reminded that it was sold for CHF 220K by Sotheby's on November 17, 1988.
Based on a different denting of the two wheels Daniels had been able to realize a watch compensating at the will of the user the difference of 3.555 minutes per day between solar and sidereal times. Well aware that it was a sensational horological feat Dr Daniels exhibited it sometimes at events as a dress watch, stating that it was the suitable instrument to control the time in a long telephone conversation during a trip to Mars.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's before the 2012 sale.
from 1983 A Collection of 4370 Swatch watches
2011 SOLD for HK$ 51M including premium by Phillips
from 1983 The Swatch Brand
2015 SOLD for HK$ 47M including premium
Swatch is a great Swiss success story that enabled the reconquest of the market of cheap watches against an overwhelming dominance of the Japanese industry. This brand was launched in 1983 after three years of development.
The idea of the founders was to reduce as much as possible the number of components in order to minimize the production costs. The technical challenge was to maintain in these conditions the accuracy of the instrument while ensuring an acceptable operating duration.
The marketing has been very innovative, promoting fun illustrations and even unprecedented uses. The user can pin his Swatch watch on his jacket or tie with it her ponytail. In 1985, some limited editions are illustrated by artists. Swatch collaborated with Kiki Picasso and Keith Haring, without neglecting the popular themes such as movies and sports competitions.
On November 24, 2011, Phillips sold the Blum collection as a single lot for HK $ 51M including premium. Composed of a total of 4370 pieces, this set included 795 prototypes, some of them predating the 1983 original release.
On April 7 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells the Dunkel collection, lot 2189. This superlot consists of 5800 pieces including 45 prototypes, mainly from 1983 to 2008. Here is the link to thepress release.
The idea of the founders was to reduce as much as possible the number of components in order to minimize the production costs. The technical challenge was to maintain in these conditions the accuracy of the instrument while ensuring an acceptable operating duration.
The marketing has been very innovative, promoting fun illustrations and even unprecedented uses. The user can pin his Swatch watch on his jacket or tie with it her ponytail. In 1985, some limited editions are illustrated by artists. Swatch collaborated with Kiki Picasso and Keith Haring, without neglecting the popular themes such as movies and sports competitions.
On November 24, 2011, Phillips sold the Blum collection as a single lot for HK $ 51M including premium. Composed of a total of 4370 pieces, this set included 795 prototypes, some of them predating the 1983 original release.
On April 7 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells the Dunkel collection, lot 2189. This superlot consists of 5800 pieces including 45 prototypes, mainly from 1983 to 2008. Here is the link to thepress release.
1987 2499-100P by Patek Philippe
2012 SOLD 3.45 MCHF including premium
One figure is enough to state that the model 2499 of Patek Philippe is the greatest accomplishment of the watch industry: it was produced continuously for 36 years, from 1951 to 1986.
This highly complex wristwatch included a perpetual calendar, a chronograph and the moon phases. Designed for high-end, it was made in only 349 copies, which is an average of ten per year.
Almost all are in yellow gold. Apparently focused on the early period, some very rare 2499 in pink gold are esteemed at auction. Here are two prices: CHF 3.2 million including premium by Antiquorum in October 2002, CHF 2.55 million including premium by Christie's on May 14, 2012.
In 1987, after the completion of the regular production, components were still available to assemble the last two watches in the last subvariant, 2499/100. Philippe Stern, the future president of the brand, decided that they will be the only 2499 in white metal. There will never be a 2499 in white gold: the boss preferred platinum.
Both watches were not intended to be marketed. The latest is actually in the Patek Philippe museum. But 1989 is a year of intense activity to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand, with two major events: the release of the pocket watch reference Calibre 89 with 33 complications, and an auction fully devoted to the brand, on April 9, 1989 by Habsburg Feldman.
Patek Philippe changed their mind on the penultimate 2499, presenting it at that auction. Sold CHF 420K, it is certainly for ever the only platinum 2499 available on the market.
This 2499/100P is one of the most desirable watches for a collector. It is estimated CHF 2.5 million at Christie's, for sale in Geneva on November 12. Here is the link to the catalog.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Hodinkee.
POST SALE COMMENT
This luxurious and highly rare watch was sold CHF 3.45 million including premium, in its range of estimates.
This highly complex wristwatch included a perpetual calendar, a chronograph and the moon phases. Designed for high-end, it was made in only 349 copies, which is an average of ten per year.
Almost all are in yellow gold. Apparently focused on the early period, some very rare 2499 in pink gold are esteemed at auction. Here are two prices: CHF 3.2 million including premium by Antiquorum in October 2002, CHF 2.55 million including premium by Christie's on May 14, 2012.
In 1987, after the completion of the regular production, components were still available to assemble the last two watches in the last subvariant, 2499/100. Philippe Stern, the future president of the brand, decided that they will be the only 2499 in white metal. There will never be a 2499 in white gold: the boss preferred platinum.
Both watches were not intended to be marketed. The latest is actually in the Patek Philippe museum. But 1989 is a year of intense activity to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand, with two major events: the release of the pocket watch reference Calibre 89 with 33 complications, and an auction fully devoted to the brand, on April 9, 1989 by Habsburg Feldman.
Patek Philippe changed their mind on the penultimate 2499, presenting it at that auction. Sold CHF 420K, it is certainly for ever the only platinum 2499 available on the market.
This 2499/100P is one of the most desirable watches for a collector. It is estimated CHF 2.5 million at Christie's, for sale in Geneva on November 12. Here is the link to the catalog.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Hodinkee.
POST SALE COMMENT
This luxurious and highly rare watch was sold CHF 3.45 million including premium, in its range of estimates.
1987 The Complications of George Daniels
2019 SOLD for CHF 2.4M including premium
The mastery of watchmaking by George Daniels equaled that of Breguet, whom he admired. In 1980, 157 years after the master's death, he is the first inventor to patent a basic innovation : his coaxial escapement reduces the friction to the point that mechanical watches no longer need a lubricant.
His watches were entirely hand made by himself. His understanding of mechanics was such that he made very few preliminary drawings for developing a new complication. In addition to the clocks and to a commercial series of 58 watches in 1999, he built during his career 23 pocket watches and 4 wristwatches.
His effectiveness was outstanding. The watches equipped with his coaxial escapement are reaching an accuracy below 1 second per month, better than any quartz watch in his time.
Built in 1987, the Grand Complication appears as the ultimate achievement of George Daniels' pocket watches, before he entered a miniaturization phase for creating wristwatches.
Daniels worked with his intuition under no other influence than Breguet. The Grand Complication includes mechanisms entirely invented by him for the annual calendar and for the repeating of minutes. Built on a one-minute coaxial escapement tourbillon, it also offers the moon phases, the power reserve indicator, the equation of time and even a bimetallic thermometer, all of that in a 62 mm diameter case. The dial is highly readable.
Daniels died in 2011. In the auction of his collection by Sotheby's on November 6, 2012, the highest price rewarded the Space Travellers watch, sold for £ 1.33M including premium over a lower estimate of £ 400K. In the same auction room on September 19, 2017, it reached £ 3.2M including premium.
In the 2012 sale the Grand Complication was estimated £ 500K, thus being announced as the most important of Daniels' prototype watches. It had been sold for £ 915K including premium, lot 10. It is now on sale by Phillips in Geneva on May 11, lot 34.
The Grand Complication is shown in operation in a short video inserted in an article prepared by the auction house, illustrated with many photos. The image below is shared by Wikimedia with attribution to Andrewrabbott [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
His watches were entirely hand made by himself. His understanding of mechanics was such that he made very few preliminary drawings for developing a new complication. In addition to the clocks and to a commercial series of 58 watches in 1999, he built during his career 23 pocket watches and 4 wristwatches.
His effectiveness was outstanding. The watches equipped with his coaxial escapement are reaching an accuracy below 1 second per month, better than any quartz watch in his time.
Built in 1987, the Grand Complication appears as the ultimate achievement of George Daniels' pocket watches, before he entered a miniaturization phase for creating wristwatches.
Daniels worked with his intuition under no other influence than Breguet. The Grand Complication includes mechanisms entirely invented by him for the annual calendar and for the repeating of minutes. Built on a one-minute coaxial escapement tourbillon, it also offers the moon phases, the power reserve indicator, the equation of time and even a bimetallic thermometer, all of that in a 62 mm diameter case. The dial is highly readable.
Daniels died in 2011. In the auction of his collection by Sotheby's on November 6, 2012, the highest price rewarded the Space Travellers watch, sold for £ 1.33M including premium over a lower estimate of £ 400K. In the same auction room on September 19, 2017, it reached £ 3.2M including premium.
In the 2012 sale the Grand Complication was estimated £ 500K, thus being announced as the most important of Daniels' prototype watches. It had been sold for £ 915K including premium, lot 10. It is now on sale by Phillips in Geneva on May 11, lot 34.
The Grand Complication is shown in operation in a short video inserted in an article prepared by the auction house, illustrated with many photos. The image below is shared by Wikimedia with attribution to Andrewrabbott [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
1989 The Yellow Gold Calibre 89
2009 SOLD 5.1 MCHF including premium
2017 UNSOLD
PRE 2017 SALE DISCUSSION
The reference 989 by Patek Philippe better known as Calibre 89 was for many years the most complicated watch in the world and is still now the most complicated ever made by that prestigious brand. It is now overcome by another pocket watch, the unique specimen of Vacheron Constantin reference 57260 released in 2015 for a private customer.
The working prototype of the Calibre 89 was completed in July 1988 and the yellow gold copy was released only nine month afterward, in April 1989.
The yellow gold Calibre 89 was immediately offered in Geneva in a themed auction devoted to 'The Art of Patek Philippe' : that brand new watch fetched the equivalent of US$ 3.2M at Habsburg Feldman on April 9, 1989 which was at that time a world auction record for a watch.
This unit was sold for CHF 5.1M including premium on November 14, 2009, by Antiquorum successor to Habsburg Feldman. It is now estimated in excess of CHF 6.5M for sale on May 14 by Sotheby's in Geneva, lot 171.
I introduced the utmost importance of the Calibre 89 in the history of horology before the 2009 sale, as follows :
The best wristwatches are highly sophisticated masterpieces of miniaturization. Pocket watches, not limited by the size of the wrist, can do even better in terms of convened complications.
In 1989, Patek Philippe celebrates its one hundred fiftieth anniversary with the model Calibre 89, which had required more nine years of design, manufacturing and assembly.
According to the brand, it is the "most complicated watch in the world": double open faced with a dial for solar time and a dial for sidereal time, 33 complications, 24 hands, 1728 components. All of this fits in a case of 89 mm in diameter and 41 mm thick and weighs 1100 grams.
The Calibre 89 was produced in only four copies, respectively in yellow gold, white gold, pink gold and platinum. On April 24, 2004, Antiquorum sold for CHF 6.6M including premium then worth $ 5M the white gold watch.
Please play the videos shared by Sotheby's : the shorter one is an appealing introduction of that lot. The other video is cleverly showing the indexes related to the complications.
The reference 989 by Patek Philippe better known as Calibre 89 was for many years the most complicated watch in the world and is still now the most complicated ever made by that prestigious brand. It is now overcome by another pocket watch, the unique specimen of Vacheron Constantin reference 57260 released in 2015 for a private customer.
The working prototype of the Calibre 89 was completed in July 1988 and the yellow gold copy was released only nine month afterward, in April 1989.
The yellow gold Calibre 89 was immediately offered in Geneva in a themed auction devoted to 'The Art of Patek Philippe' : that brand new watch fetched the equivalent of US$ 3.2M at Habsburg Feldman on April 9, 1989 which was at that time a world auction record for a watch.
This unit was sold for CHF 5.1M including premium on November 14, 2009, by Antiquorum successor to Habsburg Feldman. It is now estimated in excess of CHF 6.5M for sale on May 14 by Sotheby's in Geneva, lot 171.
I introduced the utmost importance of the Calibre 89 in the history of horology before the 2009 sale, as follows :
The best wristwatches are highly sophisticated masterpieces of miniaturization. Pocket watches, not limited by the size of the wrist, can do even better in terms of convened complications.
In 1989, Patek Philippe celebrates its one hundred fiftieth anniversary with the model Calibre 89, which had required more nine years of design, manufacturing and assembly.
According to the brand, it is the "most complicated watch in the world": double open faced with a dial for solar time and a dial for sidereal time, 33 complications, 24 hands, 1728 components. All of this fits in a case of 89 mm in diameter and 41 mm thick and weighs 1100 grams.
The Calibre 89 was produced in only four copies, respectively in yellow gold, white gold, pink gold and platinum. On April 24, 2004, Antiquorum sold for CHF 6.6M including premium then worth $ 5M the white gold watch.
Please play the videos shared by Sotheby's : the shorter one is an appealing introduction of that lot. The other video is cleverly showing the indexes related to the complications.
2005 Gyrotourbillon 1 by Jaeger-LeCoultre
2009 SOLD 312 K$ including premium
PRE SALE DISCUSSION
Two wristwatches of the same model are presented for auction at three week intervals and some thousand kilometers away. Yet there were only 75 copies made of the Gyrotourbillon 1 of Jaeger-LeCoultre, at a rate of 20 per year.
This skeleton model includes the Calibre 177 of Jaeger-LeCoultre, a component that represents an important technical progress by enabling a multi-axis rotation.
The number 01/75 is retained by the Museum of the brand. The following number 02/75 is the earliest to be available on the market. It is coming on September 17 in New York at Antiquorum. It will be followed by the number 11/75, at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 7.
This apparent coincidence is interesting because it follows after only a few months the end of production. The model was launched in 2005, and one can easily calculate that the series was completed a few months ago.
It is estimated 270 K$ in New York, and 2 MHK$ in Hong Kong. These two prices are similar, and not far below the commercial price that could be found on the web. This means, whatever the result of the sale, that auction sales are used and favoured as a process in the market for contemporary luxury watch.
What's better than a video to appreciate the complexity of the movement of a Gyrotourbillon 1? Here is one on Youtube.
POST SALE COMMENTS
1
Let us begin with the result at Antiquorum: the Gyrotourbillon was sold just below the low estimate: $ 260 K excl (312 K $ including fees). It's a good price, considering the arguments I discussed above by comparison with the previous price of the brand piece.
2
No surprise for this second lot of my article, sold 2.3 MHK$ including premium by Sotheby's.
Two wristwatches of the same model are presented for auction at three week intervals and some thousand kilometers away. Yet there were only 75 copies made of the Gyrotourbillon 1 of Jaeger-LeCoultre, at a rate of 20 per year.
This skeleton model includes the Calibre 177 of Jaeger-LeCoultre, a component that represents an important technical progress by enabling a multi-axis rotation.
The number 01/75 is retained by the Museum of the brand. The following number 02/75 is the earliest to be available on the market. It is coming on September 17 in New York at Antiquorum. It will be followed by the number 11/75, at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 7.
This apparent coincidence is interesting because it follows after only a few months the end of production. The model was launched in 2005, and one can easily calculate that the series was completed a few months ago.
It is estimated 270 K$ in New York, and 2 MHK$ in Hong Kong. These two prices are similar, and not far below the commercial price that could be found on the web. This means, whatever the result of the sale, that auction sales are used and favoured as a process in the market for contemporary luxury watch.
What's better than a video to appreciate the complexity of the movement of a Gyrotourbillon 1? Here is one on Youtube.
POST SALE COMMENTS
1
Let us begin with the result at Antiquorum: the Gyrotourbillon was sold just below the low estimate: $ 260 K excl (312 K $ including fees). It's a good price, considering the arguments I discussed above by comparison with the previous price of the brand piece.
2
No surprise for this second lot of my article, sold 2.3 MHK$ including premium by Sotheby's.
2008 Patek Philippe greets the New Millennium
2012 SOLD 25 MHK$ including premium
The progress of contemporary watchmaking is going prepared in secret in the laboratories of Patek Philippe.
The Calibre 89 is well known in this group. This watch offering 33 complications was made in 4 copies in 1989. It is a marvel of miniaturization, but not enough to be worn on the wrist: it weighs 1100 grams and its 1728 components are positioned in a case of 89 mm in diameter and 41 mm thick. The yellow gold Calibre 89 was sold CHF 5.1 million including premium by Antiquorum on November 14, 2009.
Nothing stops the development effort of Patek Philippe. For approaching a new millennium: the Swiss brand was preparing a new feat. In 2008, the Star Calibre 2000 is ready.
The Star Calibre 2000 is smaller than the Calibre 89 with "only" 73 mm diameter, 32 mm thick and 530 grams, but it includes 21 complications, some of which show a really renewed imagination.
Perpetual calendar, equation of time, minute repeater are classical complications. We also appreciate in this model the time of crossing the meridian by the Moon and Sirius, the sky chart and the ring that mimics the Westminster chimes. It is protected by six patents, one of which for the time of sunrise and sunset.
A Star Calibre 2000 is estimated HK $ 18M, for sale by Christie's in Hong Kong on November 28. This is one of the three Patek Philippe watches from the Dragon collection highlighted in the video shared by Christie's.
POST SALE COMMENT
This wonder of modern watchmaking was sold HK$ 25M including premium.
The Calibre 89 is well known in this group. This watch offering 33 complications was made in 4 copies in 1989. It is a marvel of miniaturization, but not enough to be worn on the wrist: it weighs 1100 grams and its 1728 components are positioned in a case of 89 mm in diameter and 41 mm thick. The yellow gold Calibre 89 was sold CHF 5.1 million including premium by Antiquorum on November 14, 2009.
Nothing stops the development effort of Patek Philippe. For approaching a new millennium: the Swiss brand was preparing a new feat. In 2008, the Star Calibre 2000 is ready.
The Star Calibre 2000 is smaller than the Calibre 89 with "only" 73 mm diameter, 32 mm thick and 530 grams, but it includes 21 complications, some of which show a really renewed imagination.
Perpetual calendar, equation of time, minute repeater are classical complications. We also appreciate in this model the time of crossing the meridian by the Moon and Sirius, the sky chart and the ring that mimics the Westminster chimes. It is protected by six patents, one of which for the time of sunrise and sunset.
A Star Calibre 2000 is estimated HK $ 18M, for sale by Christie's in Hong Kong on November 28. This is one of the three Patek Philippe watches from the Dragon collection highlighted in the video shared by Christie's.
POST SALE COMMENT
This wonder of modern watchmaking was sold HK$ 25M including premium.
2008 The Time of Earth and Sky
2013 SOLD 1.2 MCHF including premium
The technical feat of contemporary watchmaking is the Star Caliber 2000, a pocket watch announced by Patek Philippe in October 2000. Its complications have been specially selected for their difficult compatibilities.
In March 2001, Patek Philippe launched the most complicated wristwatch, the 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon, taking advantage of technologies developed for the Star Caliber 2000. In the 5002, 686 components activate 12 complications in a case of 45 mm in diameter and 18 mm high. The price announced in 2001 was CHF 950K in yellow gold and CHF 990K in platinum.
Another innovation for Patek Philippe in the 5002 is the presence of two dials. The front dial is classic, but the dial below has a mobile sky map of the Northern Hemisphere including among other indications the sidereal time, the phases of the Moon and the passages of Sirius.
The extreme complexity for the assembly of the 5002 limited its production to two pieces per year. A platinum 5002P was sold HK$ 11.7 million including premium by Sotheby's on 10 April 2008.
On May 12 in Geneva, Antiquorum sells an exceptional specimen of 5002, released in 2008 on a special order. This very rare example in pink gold, presented in its original box with its documentation, is estimated CHF 1M, a price that may be considered as reasonable now that the model has been discontinued.
Both sides are shown in the article shared by The Watch Lounge.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result, CHF 1.2M including premium, is in line with the expectation.
In March 2001, Patek Philippe launched the most complicated wristwatch, the 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon, taking advantage of technologies developed for the Star Caliber 2000. In the 5002, 686 components activate 12 complications in a case of 45 mm in diameter and 18 mm high. The price announced in 2001 was CHF 950K in yellow gold and CHF 990K in platinum.
Another innovation for Patek Philippe in the 5002 is the presence of two dials. The front dial is classic, but the dial below has a mobile sky map of the Northern Hemisphere including among other indications the sidereal time, the phases of the Moon and the passages of Sirius.
The extreme complexity for the assembly of the 5002 limited its production to two pieces per year. A platinum 5002P was sold HK$ 11.7 million including premium by Sotheby's on 10 April 2008.
On May 12 in Geneva, Antiquorum sells an exceptional specimen of 5002, released in 2008 on a special order. This very rare example in pink gold, presented in its original box with its documentation, is estimated CHF 1M, a price that may be considered as reasonable now that the model has been discontinued.
Both sides are shown in the article shared by The Watch Lounge.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result, CHF 1.2M including premium, is in line with the expectation.
