FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANTIQUORUM PRESENTS 2019 MAY GENEVA
AUCTION RESULTS
SATURDAY MAY 11th & SUNDAY MAY 12th , 2019
A curated selection of Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces and Pens at Beau-Rivage Genève hotel, Salon de l’Impératrice
GENEVA (May 13th, 2019) — After a groundbreaking two-day auction in Geneva at Beau-Rivage Genève hotel, Antiquorum, the horological auction house for more than four decades, proves once again that interest in rare timepieces and objects remains alive and strong.
The outstanding selection of the rarest modern & vintage timepieces and pens yield
more than 10million in sales (10’318’505 CHF).
The first day of the auction unveiled a private British collection gathering the most sought-after masterpieces encompassing lots kept in a vault since their last purchase at auction in the 1960’s. The 35 lots comprised 1’339’000 CHF in total.
The highly appealing and collectible lot 35 Jacquet-Droz & Leschot enamel amphora clock with a concealed singing-bird automaton made in 1788 fetched the significant 1’025’000 CHF.
Antiquorum also presented an exquisite 20 years IWC private collection, especially the notable lot 88, the Portuguese, reached 112’500 CHF. Fitted with a black dial and mounted on a Gay Freres bracelet, this pieces introduced in 1942 remains one of the largest and most remarkable watches ever produced by IWC. The 66 IWC timepieces in excellent condition raked in for a total of 721’675 CHF.
On the second day of the auction, the important contemporary timepieces presented confused even the most nerveless watch collectors.
Demonstrating the strength of Patek Philippe, six of the more remarkable sales were of this brand’s watches.
The top-selling lot was a prototype 5060 (lot 726).
This unusual piece attracted a lot of attention and got hammered for 401’000 CHF after a 15 minutes of an intense bidding session, selling for more than eight times its low pre-sale estimate.
Another Patek Philippe achieved the second highest price of the auction for a watch. The Reference 3974 sold for a highly impressive 389’000 CHF, It is considered one of the most iconic references for this brand.
The third and fourth top-selling watches came from Rolex which continues to be in great demand by collectors.
Thrilled by two near mint examples of Daytonas, one being a Paul Newman dialled reference 6240 (lot 685), the other a modern version of the Daytona reference 16520 with all accessories enhanced by this its exceptional porcelain dial signed by Tiffany (lot 688) were respectively sold for 353’000 CHF and 293’000 CHF an historical result for a stainless steel 16520 Daytona Zenith Tiffany.
Antiquorum would like also to highlight the always growing interest in Omega watches especially with the interesting illustration of lot 675, that got hammered for 72’500 CHF, a striking result exceeding 24 times its low estimation. A worldrecord for this reference, the only one appeared on the market so far.
The Omega Speedmaster lots serie went very well such as lot 588, Omega ref 145.022 Speedmaster Apollo XI gold, sold for 50’000k (estimate 10-15) and lot 579, an Omega chronograph pocket watch which is in all likelihood a unique specimen if its kind, featuring a “plique à jour”. The rarity of the present lot captured the heart of a collector for 47’500 CHF.
Antiquorum, the world’s first horological auction house has been proud to entrust once again for this auction an exceptional illustration of watchmaking history as well as contemporary know-how of modern manufacturers. For the first time in its history, Antiquorum offered a remarkable pen collection “Auction I”, with an impressive Namiki & Montblanc selection. Among this selection, the so called “Hannya”, a Dunhill/Namiki pen considered as the only example remaining made by Goronku Mastusda, a pinnacle for enthusiasts (lot 155) sold for 305’000 CHF a world record for a vintage Namiki pen bringing the total of this session over 850’000 CHF.
Antiquorum, The World’s Premier Auctioneers of Modern and Vintage Timepieces, established in Geneva in 1974, Antiquorum has carved its own unparalleled niche in the auction world by cultivating a thriving collector’s market for timepieces worldwide and consistently obtains the highest prices for timepieces, auctions timepieces with exceptional provenance and rarity and has set many world records.
Resolutely avant-garde, Antiquorum was the first auction house to offer full online service with the possibility to place absentee bids or register to bid in real time during the auction.
Antiquorum holds auctions in Geneva, Hong Kong and Monaco, with previews held in major cities worldwide. With its internationally recognized staff of watch experts providing unsurpassed expertise and services and its dedicated pursuit of innovative auction methods, Antiquorum continues, more than ever before, to make history in time.