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Important Watches

Results: Sotheby’s annual New York June auction of Important Watches concluded with a robust total of $11.7 million. The second and final offering of Swiss Mechanical Marvels totaled $4 million. Interest from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States brought about a strong sell-through rate of 87% by lot. Ranging from intricate automata crafted in the early-19th century to daring contemporary wristwatches, top prices spanned hundreds of years of horological history. 

Details: This June, Sotheby’s New York is delighted to offer a selection of important timepieces including the Collection of Swiss Mechanical Marvels Part II. The sister collection to Sotheby’s record breaking sale in June 2015, Part II includes twenty rare objets of the highest quality. The collection is led by the Magician Box. The magician comes to life, waving his wand to reveal answers to questions that are inserted into the side of an elaborate box. Complete with ten questions and answers, the interactive automaton is truly spectacular. Other highlights include a Singing Bird by Jacob Frisard and the Travelling Circus by Piguet & Capt. With masterful craftsmanship and imaginative design, these luxury toys remain the ultimate example of the marriage between art and science. 

The Swiss Mechanical Marvels are complemented by an extensive selection of modern wristwatches, including a group of complicated modern Patek Philippe wristwatches featuring no fewer than seven minute repeating wristwatches and seven tourbillon wristwatches.  Also of note are three important Gruebel Forsey wristwatches featuring double tourbillons, and a wide range of timepieces by elite makers such as Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne, Rolex and Richard Mille. The final lot of the sale is an extraordinary vintage Patek Philippe World Time Ref 1415 with an enamel dial depicting Eurasia.

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