Sotheby’s New York Fine Watches is led by an exceptional yellow gold and diamond-set Cartier Crash Circa 2001. Always released with a very limited production the Cartier Crash is a rare treasure to add to any watch collection. A beautiful selection of interesting vintage Cartier is also on offer and celebrates the firm’s fearlessness when it comes to daring and bold shapes.
The sale also features a large selection of popular wristwatches offered without reserve. Of note is a rare and collectable Rolex Reference 16520 'Patrizzi Dial Zenith' Daytona. Modern sport models include a Patek Philippe Reference 5167 Aquanaut, and a variety of chronographs by Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, IWC and more.
To complete our offerings for this gift-giving season, beautiful wristwatches dressed with diamonds, precious gems, hard stones such as mother of pearl, lapis lazuli, and meteorite offer our collectors ample choice this holiday season.
After 25 years of manual winding Daytona, the introduction of the automatic reference 16520 was the most important evolution in the history of the celebrated model. The watch was completely redesigned and was fitted with the new calibre 4030 based on the Zenith El Primero. Even if the 16520 was produced for only a dozen years, the model saw several developments, mainly consisting in the layout of the dial. The present lot features a plethora of collectable features, from the zenith movement and dial configuration, to the inverted 6, and most noticeably, a beautiful tropical tone to the subsidiary dials.
For watch collectors, the patina of the dial plays a key role. With the standardization of the watch production and the use of more stable components, most of the pieces produced after the 1990s are lacking this unique feature. Some of the Reference 16520 fitted with a black dial produced between 1993 and 1997 have seen their silver chapter rings of their subsidiary dials changing color to a tropical brown shade. Sometimes referred to as a 'Patrizzi', each piece has a different patina, making them unique. Some are more appealing than others and enthusiasts will favor their warm, pronounced patina such as on the present watch.
The Cartier Crash, was launched in 1967 and epitomized the fever and design of the late 1960s.
Cartier has always empowered their iconic designs, launching fresh tributes and reinventions for their classics and icons throughout the years. The present example was made in a limited edition circa 2001, and heightened by pave diamonds throughout the case. Always released with a very limited production the Cartier Crash is a rare treasure to add to any watch collection.
We are pleased to offer an incredible and wide ranging selection of vintage Cartier, celebrating the Maison’s daring take on shapes.
Enjoy a wide selection of vintage chronographs from Rolex and Breitling, to Heuer, Universal Geneve and more.
Desiring a revolutionary steel sports watch in the 1970s, Audemars Piguet sought out renowned watch designer Gerald Genta. In only one night, Genta produced a drawing of what would become the famous Royal Oak. To this day, the Royal Oak has evolved in many collections but has remained the icon of the Le Brassus-based manufacturer.
