Sotheby's Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale To Take Place on 11 July 2020

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Possibly Unique, Rolex Platinum Zenith Daytona With Hardstone Lapis Lazuli Dial

Estimated at HK$4 – 8 million / US$ 500,000 – 1,000,000

ALSO HIGHLIGHTING

The Winning Watch from Ressence Watch Design Charity Competition

An Exceptional Line-Up of Vintage and Contemporary Timepieces

Live Auction: 11 July ︳Public Exhibition: 5 – 10 July

Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale 2020 will take place on 11 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The flagship auction will offer an impressive line-up of 300 timepieces of various categories, from vintage timepieces to contemporary complications, with pieces from leading brands including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex and F.P. Journe. A major highlight is a unique watch from contemporary independent watchmaker Ressence, the result of the partnership with Sotheby’s on #WatchesAgainstCovid19 design competition, celebrating human values and the dedication of key workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Consigned by a private collector and fresh to the market, this 1999 manufactured Rolex is the only known platinum Daytona with lapis lazuli hardstone dial. It is important to note that this watch has the same reference number 16516 and A serial number, which is consistent with the only other known platinum Daytona sold by Sotheby's in 2018 for USD 871,000.

In April, independent watchmaker Ressence and Sotheby’s launched a competition to design a unique watch reinterpreting one of Ressence’s latest models, the Type 1 Slim. Selected by Ressence founder Benoît Mintiens, the winning design is a pastel blue watch signed by English father-of-two Raymond Ramsden, which is then manufactured by the brand in order to be offered in the Hong Kong sale. The proceeds will support the Covid-19 Research Programme being run by KU Leuven University in Belgium. More information on the competition and the design please visit here.

A legend among the world of horology and arguably the greatest living watchmaker, Philippe Dufour has achieved many remarkable accomplishments in his career. Insisting to create watches only with his hands, Dufour’s production number is alarmingly limited and would only produce between 15 to 18 watches per year. One of his most iconic models, the present Simplicity features a case diameter of 34 mm, a true classic size. Unlike most watches where the value is determined by materials and complications utilized, the Simplicity is known for its unprecedented finishing of the movement and the case.

Known for their excellence in traditional decoration as well as its use of automata, Jacquet Droz continued to stay true to its core identity by creating the limited-edition Bird Repeater. Immediately noticeable, the stunning and delicate dial of the watch depicts a family of hand-painted Blue Tits nesting over the scenic valley of the Jura region in Switzerland where Pierre Jaquet-Droz is native to. The dial embodies a total of six different animated elements, a crashing mother-of-pearl water fall representing the second wheel, and seven additional movements represented by the four blue tits and an egg.

While Dome clocks are often not as well-known as some of Patek Philippe’s wristwatches, they are one of the most collectible products of Patek Philippe. Given the theme “Les Faisans” which translate as pheasants in French, the present Dome clock features three horizontal polychrome cloisonné enamel panels that are decorated with a field of marvellously coloured pheasants standing and soaring against a background of a hazy morning in a summer forest.

This is an exceptional piece made upon special request for Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Rendered in hand painted polychrome enamel, the desert eagle is an exceedingly rare dial that exhibits the UAE coat of arms at 12 o’clock with the signature of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum proudly signed within the red banner. Above 6 o’clock the Emir’s name is also signed which differs from the other known examples that feature the mark of the Wazarah Ad Difa’a department in the same position. The watch was gifted to the consignor 40 years ago and the watch has been sitting in a safety deposit box ever since.

Considered as one of Patek Philippe’s greatest grand complications, the reference 3939 is equipped with a magnificently delicate tourbillon and an astoundingly sophisticated minute repeater that chimes with a clear resonance tone. Its white enamel dial is nice and intact, finished with absolute perfection and offered in pristine condition. Furthermore, the present watch bears a movement number ending with 002, indicating that it is the second reference 3939 made for commercial distribution.

Launched in 2008 the reference 5078 is a superb complication, with the present example featuring an outstanding black lacquered dial contrasting perfectly with the white Roman numerals. The dial is furthermore stylised with a traditional railroad minute track on the exterior ring, with the subsidiary seconds dial having its very own track as well. Its beautifully finished calibre R 27 PS provides an automatic movement with a micro-rotor and empowers a traditional minute repeating function, activated by the slider on the band.