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Showing posts with label auction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label auction. Show all posts

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Alrosa Unveils 51-Carat ‘Dynasty’ Diamond


Russian diamond mining company, Alrosa, said Wednesday that it wants to revive Russia's history as a skilled center for crafting diamond, gems and jewels.

To back those words the state-owned company unveiled “Dynasty”—a 51.38-carat traditional round brilliant-cut diamond, which it says is “the purest of all large diamonds manufactured throughout the Russian jewelry history.”


The Dynasty is part of a collection of five diamonds with the same name produced at Alrosa's cutting and polishing facilities. The company plans to sell the collection at an online auction scheduled for November 2017. The collection was unveiled at a press conference held Wednesday in Moscow.


All of the diamonds came from the same source—a 179-carat rough diamond named “Romanovs,” recovered in 2015 from Nyurbinskaya kimberlite pipe in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in northeast Russia.

The 179-carat Romanovs rough diamond that produced the Dynasty collection

The names Dynasty for the collection and Romanovs for the rough that created the collection were chosen because they are connected with the company’s intention to “revive the traditions and memory of renowned Russian jewelers famous for their craftsmanship and filigree.”

Specifically it honors Peter I, the Russian Tsar of the House of Romanov, who is credited with founding the country’s first cutting and polishing factory early in the 18th Century and the Romanov dynasty known for its appreciation of diamonds and jewels.


In addition to its size, the 57-facet Dynasty has been graded Triple Excellent (excellent in polish, symmetry and cut), D color (colorless) and VVS1(very, very slightly included), a clarity grading just below “flawless” and “internally flawless” meaning a tiny speck is visible at 10x magnification through the pavilion of the diamond.

Sergey Ivanov, Alrosa president, said a diamond of this size and with these characteristics has never been produced in Russia and it has the potential to be most expensive diamond ever sold in the country’s history. Less than 1% of diamonds have these characteristics.

The complete collection of five diamonds totaling 76.22 carats is also called Dynasty. They were created from a

Ivanov, said it took Alrosa technicians and craftsmen a year-and-a-half to create the collection.

“Such characteristics of polished diamonds obtained from one rough diamond are exceptional. To be sure, it is a masterpiece of Russian polishers,” Ivanov said.

The other diamonds in the Dynasty collection are as follows:


* The “Sheremetevs,” a 16.67-carat round brilliant-cut diamond, the second largest diamond in the collection;


* The “Orlovs,” a 5.05-carat oval diamond;


* The “Vorontsovs,” a 1.73-carat pear-cut diamond; and


* The “Yusupovs,” a 1.39-carat diamond.

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Sunday, May 14, 2017

The ‘Bao Đại” Watch Sets World Record For Any Rolex Sold At Auction


Rolex Reference 6062 “Bao Đại” chronograph sold for $5.06 million, setting a world record for any watch sold at auction at the Philips and Bacs & Russo Geneva watch sale held Saturday. It shattered its presale estimate of $1.5 million.

The auction house said the sale followed an “eight minute bidding war,” among 10 bidders in the packed room at the Hôtel La Réserve where the auction was held and three telephone bidders. It was sold to a phone bidder who was not identified. 

Rolex Reference 6062 “Bao Đại”

The Bao Đại chronograph is among the “most valuable and desirable Rolexes” and the “most complicated and iconic Oyster-cased model” ever made by the Swiss watch manufacturer, the auction house said. In addition to its rarity, this particular model also has imperial provenance. 

This Rolex triple calendar with moonphase in yellow gold is one of three black dial models known to exist with diamond markers. Of the three, the Bao Dai, is the only one to feature diamond markers at the even hours. 

The watch belonged to Bảo Đại, the last emperor of Vietnam. According to family legend, Đại (the 13th and last emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty) purchased the watch in Geneva in 1954, while he attended a conference seeking peace in Indochina.

The “Bao Dai” first appeared on the market in 2002 and was sold by Phillips for what was at the time the most expensive Rolex ever, according to the auction house. A private collector was winning bidder and it had stayed in private hands since.

Aurel Bacs, senior consultant at Phillips, sold the watch at that time. 

It also happens to be the second time within 12 months that a Rolex watch sold at auction by Philips and Bacs & Russo in Geneva set a world record.

“The combination of the iconic name Rolex, its extraordinary rarity and originality, crowned by the imperial first owner, this world auction record result is a testimony that Phillips’ stringent approach of bringing only the finest quality collectors watches to the market is the winning formula,” Aurel Bacs said.

The two-day auction at the Hôtel La Réserve is continuing today (Sunday). 

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Thursday, May 11, 2017

Christie’s To Offer Jackie Kennedy’s Cartier Tank Watch

December, 22, 1969: Jackie Onassis (1929 - 1994) pictured with her Cartier Tank watch. Photo by David Cairns/Express/Getty Images

One of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s most cherished items during her years as first lady and long after will be placed on auction next month.

Kennedy Onassis’s Cartier Tank watch is one of the high-profile items to appear at Christie’s New York Rare Watches and American Icons New York sale on June 21. Its estimate is $60,000 - $120,000.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's Cartier Tank watch

It was a watch worn by the former first lady for decades and can be seen on her wrist in many photos, Christie’s said. It was given to her as a gift from her brother-in-law Prince Stanislaw “Stas” Radziwill in 1963. On the caseback is the engraving: "Stas to Jackie 23 Feb. 63 2:05 AM to 9:35 PM.” The times refer to the start and stop times of the 50-Mile Hike in Palm Beach in 1963.

The watch will be accompanied by an original painting that Kennedy Onassis made in 1963 as a gift for Stas Radziwill, celebrating the hike with the dedication “February 23, 1963, 2:05 am to 9:35 pm / Jackie to Stas with love and admiration.”

The engraved caseback of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank

The 50-mile hike became a short-lived fad in early 1963 after President Kennedy publicly asked the American people to accept the mentally and physically grueling challenge of walking this long distance, the auction house said. His inner circle of family and friends were some of the first to attempt the hike including his friends, Stas Radziwill and Chuck Spalding, featured in the painting.

This watch and the accompanying painting, previously unknown to the public, are two important historic artifacts to surface in recent years from the golden era of the Kennedy Presidency, Christie’s said.

The watch will be accompanied by an original painting that Kennedy Onassis made in 1963 as a gift for Stas Radziwill

“These two objects capture the spirit of another era, a time where friendship and the ‘can-do’ optimism of the generation seemed to make anything possible,” said John Reardon, international head of Christie’s Watches.

The owner of the watch and painting, who has requested anonymity, offered to donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Artist Jewels, Led By Andrew Grima, Featured At Bonhams London Auction

Gold, diamond and fire opal brooch/pendant, 1970, by Andrew Grima.  All photos courtesy of Bonhams except where noted

All of the big names, including Cartier, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels, will be part of the Bonhams London Fine Jewelry sale on April 27. However, the auction house will also feature the works of several contemporary jewelry artists, led by Andrew Grima.

Jean Ghika, head of Jewellery for Bonhams UK & Europe, was particularly excited about the five pieces by Grima that will be included in the sale. She says the Anglo-Italian jewelry designer, known for his modern works in the 1960s and ’70s, is a “pioneer of his day” who placed a strong emphasis on textures and conceptual designs.

“It wasn’t about the stones but the concept,” she said during a recent meeting at Bonhams London headquarters. “He was very instep with the changing trends. He represented an interest in jewelry as an art form rather than a conglomerate of stones.”

The Grima pieces she highlighted are:

Jean Ghika, head of Jewellery for Bonhams UK & Europe
displays the Andrew Grima pendant.
Photo by Anthony DeMarco

A gold, diamond and fire opal brooch/pendant, 1970, with the oval-cut opal set among an abstract arrangement of textured 18k gold cinnamon sticks, with a brilliant-cut diamond accent. Its estimate is £5,000 - £7,000 ($6,275 - $8,800).


A rutilated quartz, cultured pearl and diamond torque necklace, 1990, with the textured torque suspended at the front by a carved rutilated quartz “apple” with brilliant-cut diamond highlights, surmounted by a grey cultured pearl and brushed leaves. Its estimate is £7,000 - £10,000 ($8,800 - $12,500).


A color change sapphire and diamond ring, 1977, with a cushion-shaped, unheated Sri Lankan sapphire set within an abstract surround of brilliant-cut diamonds mounted on stalks. Its estimate is £5,000-7,000 ($6,275 - $8,800).

The auction of 141 lots will offer a breadth of jewels including signed pieces, antique items and colorful gems. 


The top lot is a Van Cleef & Arpels ring featuring a 10.28-carat E color marquise-cut diamond set between pear-shaped diamonds with an estimate of £150,000 - £200,000 ($188,200 - $251,000).

Signed jewels
The top three items in this group are:


A diamond 'Fuchsia' brooch and earring suite by Van Cleef & Arpels is among the top items in this group. The brooch is designed as a fuchsia flower head, its petals pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds and its stamen reveals an articulated cascade of pear-shaped diamonds. Its estimate is £70,000 - £100,000 ($87,800 - $125,500).


In addition, the auction will offer an Art deco diamond bracelet by Cartier, circa 1925. Signed “Cartier Londres,” the finely pierced articulated geometric strap is decorated with cushion-shaped old brilliant and single-cut diamonds. Its estimate is £20,000 - £30,000 ($25,100 - $27,600).


Another standout in this group is an enamel and diamond “Serpenti” bracelet-watch by Bulgari, circa 1965-1970. The articulated bracelet is composed of a series of overlapping scales applied with orangey-yellow and red enamel. The serpent’s head has a forked tongue and marquise-cut diamond eyes. Its mouth opens to reveal a circular watch dial. Its estimate is £50,000-60,000 ($62,700 - $75,300).

Antique jewels
Some of the standouts in this group are:


A 19th century diamond rivière necklace composed of 45 collet-set cushion-shaped diamonds weighing 43 carats. Its estimate is £60,000 - £80,000 ($75,300 - $100,380).

Photo by Anthony DeMarco

A Georgian diamond panel bracelet, circa 1780, composed of a series of individually sprung plaques, each pavé-set with old brilliant-cut diamonds, within a border of similarly-cut diamonds, mounted in silver closed back settings. Its estimate is £8,000 - £10,000 ($10,000 - $12,500).


An early 18th Century gold and diamond necklace of Portuguese origin in its original fitted case. It’s designed as a series of ribbon-bow motif links suspending a chandelier fringe. Its estimate is £10,000 - £15,000 ($12,500 - $18,800).

A special spinel
Bonhams is placing a special emphasis on spinels. These gems in red and blue (there are other colors) are sometimes mistaken for and are actually rarer than rubies and sapphires. However, their prices are lower. In September 2015, the 50.13-carat Hope Spinel fetched the world record price of $1.4 million at Bonhams London Fine Jewellery Sale, also setting a world record of $30,000 per carat, nearly double the previous record.


For this sale Bonhams is offering an early 20th century spinel and diamond ring. The 5.3-carat Burmese, unheated, step-cut spinel, circa 1915, is set within an octagonal surround of old single-cut diamonds. Its estimate is £15,000 - £20,000 ($18,800 - $25,100).

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Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Colored Diamonds, Cartier Ruby Brooch Among Top Lots At Bonhams New York Auction


A fancy colored diamond and diamond ring is the top lot of Bonhams New York Fine Jewelry sale. The jewel is centered with a 6.32-carat European cut fancy vivid, yellow diamond set between two old mine cut diamonds. Its estimate is $400,000 - 600,000.

Referring to the old European cut of the diamond, Susan Abeles, director of US Jewelry at Bonhams, said: “This old fashioned cutting style, rarely found in today’s market, epitomizes old world charm, brilliance and, above all, depth of color,”

It one of two colored diamonds jewels that will lead the April 24 sale. The other is a fancy colored diamond and diamond necklace by William Goldberg.


The modern-design necklace is set with 17 cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut fancy yellow diamonds, weighing a total of 47.34 carats. Each yellow diamond is set within a round brilliant-cut diamond surround and enhanced by baguette and round brilliant-cut diamonds. The central fancy yellow diamond weighs 5.02 carats and graded as internally flawless. Its estimate is $350,000 - $550,000.

The sale includes a variety of gems and jewels including signed pieces from Cartier, Verdura and René Boivin; statement sapphires and emeralds; and collectable items from the Art Deco period, the 1960s and 1970s.

While the colored diamond lots are expected to be the top earners, the most interesting pieces are the signed jewels, which showcase variety, colorful precious materials, fine design and craftsmanship. They cover a number of periods.


Perhaps the most notable signed piece is a fine ruby and diamond clip brooch by Cartier, circa 1935. It reflects the evolution of style from Art Deco to Art Moderne, Abeles said. “Gone are the strong, flat, colorful, geometric lines as these were replaced by the more sculptural aesthetic found in jewelry of the mid-1930s.”

The brooch is geometrically designed and centers on a 3.54-carat marquise mixed-cut Burmese unheated ruby. The central ruby has a pavé-set frame of baguette and round brilliant-cut diamonds, further enhanced by round cabochon and sugarloaf rubies and accented with square step-cut diamonds. Its estimate is $300,000 - $400,000.

“From the mid-1930s Cartier created and sold predominantly sculptural, mono-chromatic and diamond jewelry. While gemstone preferences of sapphire, emerald, aquamarine, topaz and turquoise can be found, very few ruby examples exist,” Abeles said. “This particular clip brooch provides an elaborate, yet simple, showcase for an exquisite gemstone. The brooch is a real collector’s item given the Cartier name, the era and composition.”

Other signed jewels of note include:


An aquamarine and diamond “Feuille De Platane” brooch by René Boivin, circa 1950, featuring a 21.90-carat, heart-shaped aquamarine enhanced by textured gold leaves and adorned with old European-cut diamonds. Its estimate is $20,000 - $25,000.


A citrine and 14k rose gold brooch by Verdura, 1941, with an estimate of $5,000 - $7,000.


Original Blue Book Tiffany “Lily Of The Valley” designed by Donald Claflin for Tiffany & Co., 1969. It is the original prototype for the 1969 Tiffany & Co. Blue Book brooch. The inspiration for this jewel comes from the French custom of giving Lily of the Valleys on the first of May to celebrate spring and as a good luck charm. The brooch is composed of eleven en tremblant lilies, set with round brilliant-cut diamonds, to a gold stem with green enamel leaves. Its estimate is $5,000 - $7,000.


The oldest piece of jewelry being offered is an antique pair of emerald and gold earrings dating back to circa 1800, estimated at $3,000 - 5,000. 

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Monday, April 10, 2017

Mismatched Diamond Earrings Could Fetch $68 Million At Sotheby’s

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A mismatched pair of fancy colored earrings, offered as individual lots, will lead Sotheby’s spring sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, May 16 at the Mandarin Oriental, Geneva. Together the auction house says they make up the most valuable set of earrings ever sold at auction.

“The Apollo Blue,” a 14.54-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, will be presented with an estimate of $38 – $50 million and “The Artemis Pink,” a 16-carat fancy intense pink diamond, has an estimate of $12.5 – $18 million.

“The Apollo and Artemis diamonds will be the stars of our May sale in Geneva—by far the most important pair of earrings ever offered at auction,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division. “These exquisite colored diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right. Together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking.”

They are named after Apollo and Artemis, a twin brother and sister among the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. 

The pear-shaped Apollo Blue is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever to be offered at auction, Sotheby’s said. It was graded as a Type IIb diamond, which amounts to less than 1% of all diamonds. In recent years, the only mine to produce blue diamonds with any regularity is the Cullinan mine in South Africa. When in full production, less than 0.1% of diamonds sourced showed any evidence of blue color, according to the Gemological Institute of America, which graded both diamonds and issued reports on them. An infinitesimally small percentage of those is graded Fancy Vivid Blue.

The pear-shaped Artemis Pink, graded by the GIA as a Type IIa diamond, describing this category as “the most chemically pure type” of diamonds. The occurrence of pink diamonds remains exceedingly rare: according to the GIA, of all diamonds submitted to their specialists each year, ‘no more than 3% are classified as colored diamonds; less than 5% of those colored diamonds are predominantly pink’. 

“Thus, a fancy intense pink stone of such rich color and impressive size can only be described as phenomenally rare,” the auction house said.

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Sunday, April 9, 2017

Collectors See Value In Richard Mille Watches At Sotheby’s Hong Kong Auction

Richard Mille RM008

The appeal of contemporary independent watchmaker, Richard Mille, continues to grow. Demand has now extended to the auction market, where his rare, expensive and technically advanced timepieces are earning a following among collectors. 

All four Richard Mille watches (including a women’s watch) on offer sold at the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watch Sale with two of them among the top five lots. It was one of the main stories at April 5 auction where collectors were attracted to a variety of established and contemporary brands. 

“Collectors’ interest has become increasingly diverse, with the top ten lots comprising not only traditionally sought-after brands, but also complex models and those by independent watchmakers,” said Jessie Kang, Sotheby’s head of Watches, Asia. “Unique designs and rare pieces remain popular, with all four Richard Mille watches on offer sold. Bidding from 33 countries was vibrant, with many new buyers in the sale room and a number of Sotheby’s existing clients exploring the field of watch collecting for the first time.”


The top lot wasn’t a watch but a clock and art object. The Cartier “Flamingo and Lotus Automaton Clock” sold for $537,924, above estimate. It features a bejeweled flamingo and lotus set on an 18k yellow gold rectangular base set with onyx and gray mottled hardstone. One of four large round lapis lazuli buttons activates the lotus automaton. The top of the base is in mother-of-pearl with a large yellow diamond and diamond-set lotus. Its ten petals open to reveal the dial, all on nephrite leaves. The large flamingo standing on one leg is covered with brilliant-cut diamonds. Its plumage set with square-cut sapphires, rubies and emeralds, with the beak made of pink hardstone and onyx. Sapphire eyes are the final touch. 

The top lot among watches was the Richard Mille RM008, a pink gold tourbillon split seconds chronograph (top photo) that sold for $383,053. This highly complicated watch is powered by the manually wound caliber RM-008/1 with a one-minute tourbillon carriage visible at 6 o'clock with compensation balance, semi-skeletonized matte charcoal dial, two subdials for constant seconds and 30-minute register, outer scale calibrated for tachymeter, fan-form power reserve indicator at 11 o'clock position and torque indicator at 1 o'clock. It’s all housed in an 18k pink gold tonneau-shaped case.


The third lot of the sale fell to one of the most popular brands on the auction market, Patek Philippe, with a pink gold minute repeater perpetual calendar, reference 5013, which sold for $352,611, within its estimate. 


A Jaeger-LeCoultre white gold Spherotourbillon watch with date, flyback seconds and power reserve indicator, was the fourth highest seller, fetching $281,509. 


Rounding out the top five was the Richard Mille RM 015 “Tourbillon Perini Navi.” It’s inspired by the sailing vessels of the yacht builders Perini Navi of Viareggio. The white gold tonneau-shaped semi-skeleton Tourbillon timepiece fetched an above-estimate, $273,466.

The sale at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre took in more than $7.4 million, with 75.2% sold by lot and 84.8% sold by value. A total of 303 lots were on offer.

“We are pleased with the solid results and the healthy sell-through rate of the sale,” Kang said. 

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Friday, March 24, 2017

Four Watches Found In Vault After 40 Years Being Sold At Charity Auction

Patek Philippe Ref. 3514 18k gold automatic watch. Photo by Heritage Auctions

Four watches forgotten in a vault owned by the Horological Society of New York for 40 years have been rediscovered and are now being sold at a charity auction. 

Bidding for the four timepieces has already begun online on the Heritage Auctions website, which is partnering with HSNY for the auction. Final bids will be conducted live during the HSNY’s 151st annual Gala & Charity Auction, being held April 3 at the General Society Library in New York. 

The four watches are: a Patek Philippe Ref. 3514 18k gold automatic watch; an Audemars Piguet 18k gold ultra-thin pocket watch Signed Tiffany & Co., circa 1959; an Audemars Piguet 18k Gold Square watch, Ref. 5128BA, signed Tiffany & Co. circa 1960; and a Piaget $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Coin Pocket Watch signed Cartier. There’s also an enamel HSNY pin that was not in the vault with the four timepieces but is one of the few remaining vintage enamel pins from the society.

They are expected to fetch $10,000 with proceeds going toward HSNY's educational programs and endowment fund.

HSNY said the board “rediscovered” these watches and decided to use them to fund a new annual charity auction tradition. 

“It’s a remarkable find,” said Michael Fossner, Heritage Auctions watch expert. “These great watches … were of modest value when donated to the Society, where they were consigned to a vault and forgotten, oblivious to the skyrocketing market outside.” 

All five items are offered without a buyer’s premium and online bidding will take place until the day of the HSNY’s gala and charity auction. The auction will conclude with final bidding commencing live during the Gala, which begins at 6 p.m. 

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Thursday, October 13, 2016

8-Carat ‘Sky Blue Diamond’ Could Be Yours For $25 Million


The latest blue diamond to come up for auction is an 8.01-carat fancy vivid blue diamond being called the “Sky Blue Diamond.” It is the top item in Sotheby’s auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva to be held November 16. 

The ring set on a Cartier mount surrounded by white diamonds, has a presale estimate of $15 - $25 million.

Describing the diamond, David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, said, “The Sky Blue Diamond is of a wonderfully clear celestial blue, presented in an extremely elegant square emerald cut—in my view, the most flattering of all the cuts for a colored diamond.”

In recent years, colored diamonds have been highly prized at auctions with blue diamonds being the most sought after—setting numerous records. Among them:

* The 14.62-carat “Oppenheimer Blue” diamond, which sold for more than $57.5 million at Christie’s Geneva in May, setting a world record for any jewel sold at auction. 

* The 12.03-carat “Blue Moon of Josephine,” which sold for $48.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva, November 2015, setting a world record for the price per carat for any diamond or gem at just over $4 million.

* The 9.75-carat Zoe Diamond, which sold for more than $32.5 million at Sotheby’s New York, November 2014.

* The 10.10-carat Millennium Blue Fancy, which sold for more than $31.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 2016.

* The 24.18-carat “Cullinan Dream,” which sold for $25.3 million at Christie’s New York in June. 

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Monday, September 12, 2016

Patek Ref. 5013P Leads Sotheby’s Hong Kong Upcoming Watch Auction


A Patek Philippe Ref. 5013P platinum tonneau-shaped automatic minute repeater will lead Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Autumn Sale on October 5. The circa 2004 watch with a perpetual calendar, retrograde date, moon phase and leap year indication has an estimate of $359,000 – $487,000.

Launched in 1992, the Reference 5013 is one of the most complex timepieces ever made by Patek Philippe, with a total of 515 parts, Sotheby’s said. It is also the first minute-repeater to feature an automatic movement combined with a perpetual calendar and retrograde date indication. The retrograde date hand moves along a 270 degree arc and flies back to the first of the month at midnight of the last day of each month.

The sale at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will present rare and complicated timepieces from celebrated makers, as well as other cutting-edge modern wristwatches by both established and independent brands. The sale will showcase more than 290 lots and has an estimate of $4.7 million – $6.85 million.

Other auction highlights include the following:

* A Patek Philippe, Ref. 5101G-001, circa 2011. The white gold rectangular tourbillon watch with a 10-day power reserve has a triple-stepped case inspired by Patek Philippe’s Art Deco designs. The tourbillon rests on the bridge side as the dominant element of the movement revealed through the sapphire crystal case back. The rotating cage is composed of 72 individual parts, yet weighs only 0.3 grams. It takes a Patek Philippe watchmaker up to three months to produce a Ref. 5101. It is one of only two examples of a Ref. 5101 in white gold to be offered at auction. Its estimate is $103,000 – $154,000.

* A Richard Mille RM025 carbon composite and titanium skeletonized tourbillon chronograph diver’s watch with power reserve and torque indication. The circa 2014 timepiece is water resistant to 300 meters. The RM025 caliber unites the complication of a tourbillon with the chronograph movement. The torque indicator, which shows the tension of the mainspring, ensuring the chronometer function of the movement, is positioned to the right of the barrel, between 12 and 1 o’clock. Its estimate is $154,000 – $206,000.

* An A. Lange & Söhne, platinum rectangular tourbillon watch with patented stop-seconds mechanism, date and power reserve indication, cabaret tourbillon, circa 2011. Its estimate is $103,000 – $154,000.

* A single-owner collection of sport watches “characterized by their youthfulness and masculine charm, encompassing limited editions by prestigious makers such as Audemars Piguet, Panerai and Jaeger-LeCoultre,” Sotheby’s said.

* An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore chronograph with pink gold and forged carbon tourbillon, case H03575, circa 2010. This piece features an openworked dial revealing twin barrels, offering a 10-day power reserve with the column wheel chronograph mechanism and tourbillon fully visible. Its estimate is $103,000 – $154,000. 

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