Under the Hammer in Monaco
As usual, the Principality will be in July the theatre of prestigious watchmaking sessions. Let’s dive into the stunning gems of Artcurial and Antiquorum’s catalogues.
Artcurial’s Monaco Auction Week
As it does every year, the Maison based in Paris returns to the Rock for a week and settles in the iconic Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
Yellow gold skeleton wristwatch.
Estimated: €20,000 – 40,000.
Besides sessions dedicated to Automobilia, Hermes luxury bags, modern art with monumental sculptures and fine jewellery, Artcurial will conduct two prestigious watchmaking sells. The first will be held on 8th July and will focus on collector’s watches for men.
Rose gold jumping-hours wristwatch.
Estimated: €20,000 – 30,000.
The event will feature timeless pieces such as the Royal Oak in a 41 mm steel version enhanced by its legendary “Tapisserie” dial (est. €20,000 – 30,000). Patek Philippe will also be in the spotlight with complication models such as the ref. 5050J/019 with perpetual calendar (est. €30,000 – 50,000); the ref. 3969, a jumping-hours model created for the 150th anniversary of the Geneva-based manufacture (est. €20,000 – 30,000); and the ref. 3878, a full skeleton yellow gold timekeeper from 1993 and estimated between €20,000 to €40,000.
Cartier, Tank Asymétrique Limited Edition of 100 pieces.
Red gold wristwatch.
Estimated: €30,000 – 50,000.
Finally, Cartier enthusiasts will be able to bid on a Tank Asymétrique, redesigned for the very chic Collection Privée Cartier Paris and available here in a red gold version produced only in 100 pieces (est. €30,000 – 50,000).
Artcurial, “Le temps est féminin” in Monaco – 9th July
The next day, Artcurial will present its traditional “Le Temps est Féminin”, dedicated to women’s references. This new opus will mainly pay tribute to Piaget, celebrating this year its 150th anniversary.
Between €4,000 and €18,000.
Along Piaget’s famous extra-flat movements, the extravaganza of its 1970s creations will shine, and all the fine society of the Piaget Society embodied by Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor or Salvador Dalí. The catalogue will reveal many precious watches in white gold and diamonds from the 1960s and the 1970s, from €4,000 up to €14,000.
18-carat white gold (750) women wristwatch, lapis-lazuli and diamonds.
Estimated: €10,000 – 15,000.
Tribute to Patek Philippe at Antiquorum
The 13th July, Antiquorum will take over at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo. The session will feature a beautiful vintage Patek Philippe and the ref. 1415 yellow gold Worldtime, a piece produced between 1939 and 1945 and equipped with the universal time mechanism developed by Louis Cottier. Produced only in 115 pieces, this watch is a Graal for all Patek Philippe hunters, hence its estimated price between €100,000 and €200,000.
Estimated: €100,000 – 200,000.
The ref. 3448 will also be featured, a perpetual calendar from 1965, a series produced at approximately 500 pieces between 1962 and 1982. Designed by Gilbert Albert, this is the first automatic wristwatch with a perpetual calendar in Patek Philippe’s catalogue. The watch is estimated between €100,000 and €200,000.
Estimated: €100,000 – 200,000.
Finally, an extremely rare ref. 1579 from 1943 will be featured, a rose gold chronograph nicknamed “Spider Lugs” in reference of its faceted and angled lugs recalling the shape of spider legs. It is estimated between €50,000 and €100,000.
Estimated: €50,000 – 100,000.
Icing on the stage
In New York last 5th June, Sotheby’s introduced under its hammer 11 watches formerly owned by Sylvester Stallone. Amongst them was a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chim bought in 2021, ref. 6300G-010 in white gold.
Estimated: €2,5 – 5 billion.
Result: €5,4 billion.
Equipped with 20 complications, this watch was the first in the Grandmaster Chime collection to be sold at auction. Estimated between €2 and 5 billion, it was sold slightly over its high estimation, at more than €5 billion.
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