Sotheby’s Presents
IMPORTANT WATCHES
Auction & Exhibition in New York

Featuring More Than 270 Exceptional Timepieces
For All Collectors and Connoisseurs

Led By: 

More Than 160 Vintage & Modern Wristwatches by
PATEK PHILIPPE & ROLEX

Watches of Outstanding Provenance, Including 
Iconic Star Wars Actress Carrie Fisher’s 
Mellerio Pink Gold Rectangular Wristwatch

Important Complicated Timepieces
From Celebrated Makers, Including:
Cartier | Audemars Piguet | Jaeger-LeCoultre

Live Auction 11 December
Online Bidding Now Open
Public Exhibition Opens 5 December
In Sotheby’s New York Galleries

NEW YORK, 2 December 2019 – Sotheby’s is pleased to announce highlights from the upcoming Important Watches auction on 11 December, which features an exceptional collection of vintage and modern timepieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre and more. The full selection of more than 270 pieces on offer will open for public exhibition in Sotheby’s New York galleries beginning 5 December.

VINTAGE PATEK PHILIPPE WRISTWATCHES

The December auction is distinguished by an exceptional selection of vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches, highlighted by the Ref 1518 ‘First Series, Enamel Hour Markers’, An Extremely Rare and Highly Attractive Pink Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases, made in 1946 (estimate $300/500,000). Introduced in 1941, the Ref 1518 is an important part of Patek Philippe’s history as the firm’s first perpetual chronograph wristwatch made in series, influencing the perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches that followed. Of the 281 examples that were made, scholarship suggests that only 34 examples were encased in pink gold. The present example is an extremely rare variant of this reference with its silvered dial featuring hard enamel Arabic hour markers. With roughly only 20 watches produced per year, the highly sought after and rare Ref 1518 has become a staple piece within vintage connoisseurs' collections.

Other vintage highlights include the Ref 130, A Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch, made in 1947 (pictured left, estimate $100/200,000); and the Ref 3448, A Yellow Gold Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phases Hard Enamel Signature and Pearl Minute Markers, made in 1970 – a highly popular reference representing the very first automatic perpetual calendar produced in a series (estimate $150/250,000).

COMPLICATED MODERN PATEK PHILIPPE WRISTWATCHES

A Ref 5021, An Exceptionally Rare and Fine Platinum and Diamond-Set Cushion-Shaped Automatic Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases 24 Hour and Leap Year Indication, made in 1997 leads an exceptional selection of Patek Philippe minute repeaters (estimate $400/600,000). An exceedingly rare variant of the reference 5020, only two examples of the Ref 5021 in platinum – including of the present watch – have appeared at auction. Made with pavé-set diamond bezel and lugs, black lacquer dials and chaton-set diamond marker, the Ref 5021’s unusual case design houses the legendary Lemania based Cal M.27-70/155 with Geneva Seal.

A  selection of modern Patek Philippe wristwatches with possibly unique dials are highlighted by the Ref 5020G ‘Luminous Grey Dial’, A Possibly Unique White Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases and Leap Year Indication, made in 2009 (estimate $350/550,000). Launched in 1994, the 5020 – also known as the ‘TV’ screen due to its cushion-shaped case design – is an extremely rare variant of Patek Philippe's most important series, the perpetual calendar chronograph. The reference was only in production for about eight years and fewer than 800 pieces were made in total, with only 100 pieces housed in white gold. Appearing at auction for the first time, the rare example features a special-order grey dial featuring Breguet 12, tachymeter scale and six luminous numerals and hands.

The offering of modern Patek Philippes is further highlighted by the Ref 3970/2, A Possibly Unique Yellow Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Bracelet and Moon Phases, made in 2008 (estimate $150/250,000). The present watch features a black dial with a tachymeter scale and an applied Breguet numeral at 12 o'clock and applied dot hour markers. Only a handful of examples in yellow gold of the extremely rare reference are known to date. Appearing at auction for the first time, the watch is offered in its original Patek Philippe single-factory seal.

IMPORTANT PATEK PHILIPPE MINUTE REPEATING WRISTWATCHES

An exceptional selection of Patek Philippe minute repeaters are led by the Ref 5033, A Platinum Automatic Annual Calendar Minute Repeating Wristwatch, introduced in 2002, and according to scholarship, produced in a series of fewer than 80 pieces for the reference were produced (estimate $230/350,000); Ref 5013, A Pink Gold Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Retrograde Date Moon Phases and Leap Year Indication, made in 2000 – the firm’s most complicated wristwatch made in a series and the first wristwatch to combine an automatic movement with minute repeater, retrograde date and perpetual calendar (estimate $250/350,000); and Ref 5079J, A Yellow Gold Minute Repeating Wristwatch with Enamel Dial, made in 2001 (estimate $200/300,000). Only about 70 known examples were made within a five-year period before the reference was retired.

A CELEBRATION OF THE PATEK PHILIPPE NAUTILUS