The Times in Which We Live

The Times in Which We Live

No one seems quite sure just how many people will turn up at Watches and Wonders Shanghai, the in-person, invitation-only, five-day watch event that begins April 14. But those attending will get the kind of hands-on experience that the watch industry has been longing to give this past year. Participating brands — 19 are scheduled — say the absence of the usual Swiss watch fairs this spring has only highlighted the value of such events, so the companies have been insistent that, when conditions allow, large gatherings of watch brands under one roof will return. For now, however, here are more new pieces from the show and beyond.

Premium cuts

In what has become a rather monochromatic world, a splash of pigment or a thread of artistic invention provokes fresh interest, even if we cannot see the real thing just yet. A list of watch brands experimenting with color or playing with gems would be just about all-inclusive, but some do it with more pizazz than the rest. Exotic materials, métiers d’art and ties to couture abound — and, if in doubt, there are always diamonds.

Image

Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels

Ballerines Musicale Rubis

Price on application

The three watches in the Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales collection were inspired by the three-act ballet “Jewels,” created for the New York City Ballet in 1967 by George Balanchine, a friend of one of the Arpels. Matching the ballet, there is an emerald model for Fauré, a diamond piece for Tchaikovsky and this ruby piece for Stravinsky. When activated, the watches chime a simplified arrangement of the ballet’s music and Van Cleef’s hallmark ballerinas dance. The time, incidentally, is shown (loosely) by a retrograde scale at the top of the dial. Spellbinding.

Christie’s Brings Watch Auctions Online for Spring 2021

Nilam Mukherjee | April 7, 2021 | Style & Beauty

Everything that could went digital in 2020, thanks to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, and Christie’s auction house is no different. Online auctions bring a vast international network of auctioneers and collectors together across continents, and if you’re a luxury timepiece collector, you’re gonna want to pay attention to this.

Following the success of its first online auction in December 2020, Christie’s has embarked on its spring watch season with a full calendar of digital opportunities tied to physical events. March saw a stellar auction in New York, amassing an impressive 47 percent growth of new customers worldwide, thanks to the online component.

“The online auction from New York kicked off the season in the best possible way with impressive results, selling over 96 percent by lot and 122 percent by value, solid numbers showcasing the strength of the market and the international outreach of Christies’ specialists,” Christie’s watch specialist Rémi Guillemin is quoted in a press release. “This also includes the success of our December Online sale in 2020, claiming the title of most important sale ever realized for an online watch auction at Christie’s. With the April and June sales, we are preparing for another very special year and are eager to present horological icons to the most exigent international collectors.”

See also: Watches Enter NFT Space with Digital Edition of Famed Biver Hublot

Christie’s is currently holding an online watch auction in Dubai, which is hopes will be even more of a game changer. The 16-day auction comes to an end Thursday, April 8, and Christie’s projects it to be the first-ever global watch auction to exceed $10 million.

Featuring 200 lots, collectors are looking to nab timepieces from the luxury brands Rolex, Patek Philippe, Gerald Genta, as well as a lineup of rare watches from F.P Journe’s collection, a rare double-faced Ref.5002P Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillion, and two other Patek Phillippe watches containing unique light gray and ruby gem dials.

“This has been made possible only because of our specialists’ substantial reputation in the industry,” Remy Julia, Christie’s Director and Head of Watches Middle East, India and Africa, is quoted in a press release. “Besides being the perfect barometer for gauging current collector demand at the global level, Dubai Edit brings together exceptional watchmaking in one innovative format and positions Dubai as a global tech hub for vintage and contemporary collectible watches.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christie’s (@christiesinc)

If you missed your chance to place a bet in Dubai, there’s plenty of online opportunities to come. Hong Kong plays host to two auctions from April 9 to 19, and May 19 to June 2. Timepiece capital Geneva gets its chance from May 4 to 18, and more auctions will come to New York City from April 16 to 26, and June 8 to 22.

For more information about the upcoming auctions, visit Christie’s website.

Rare Rolex, F. P. Journe and Patek Philippe watches expected to boost Christie’s online auction towards $15 million total

Christie’s is expecting its Watches Online: Dubai Edit auction, which is live now and runs until April 8, to generate up to $15 million from sales of almost 200 lots.

The business says it is the greatest assortment of watches ever compiled for a purely online auction.

Watches that would once have only graced a Geneva sale room are now deemed appropriate for an international online auction including a Patek Philippe Ref. 5002P Sky Moon Tourbillon in platinum (est. $1,000,000 to $1,800,000), which was not only the most complicated watch produced by the watchmaker at the time, but also the first ever double-faced wristwatch in the Geneva manufacturer’s history.

Advertisement

Also from Patek Philippe are a Ref. 3990P with a light grey dial and a Ref. 5004R with a ruby dial, a Ref. 5074P minute repeater perpetual calendar (est. USD 400,000-700,000), a Ref. 5014P semi-skeletonised minute repeater perpetual calendar (est. $400,000-600,000), and the a pink gold Ref. 5029 minute repeater (est. USD 250,000-350,000) made in 10 pieces per metal (yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum) to commemorate the anniversary of the manufacture in 1997.

Rolex is well-represented with a good condition Rolex Dato-Compax Ref. 6036, produced circa 1952 (est. $100,000-180,000), a Rolex Submariner Ref. 5510 “Big Crown” ($125,000-200,000), a Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 “Patent Pending” ($90,000-120,000), and a rare Rolex Ref. 3525 chronograph ($150,000-300,000).

Rocketing popularity and prices for independent watchmakers have auctioneer clamouring to source them. Christie’s has come up with a selection of seven F.P. Journe watches, including three platinum timepieces from before 2004, particularly coveted and recognisable by their rhodium-plated brass movements: Resonance (est. $150,000-250,000), Zodiac, of which only 150 pieces were made, ($100,000-150,000) and Octa Automatique with an elegant pink dial ($100,000-150,000).

Remy Julia, Director – Head of Watches Middle East – India – Africa – Russia, says: “The Dubai Edit online auction is set to become a game-changer as far as watch auctions go. Never in the history of watch auctions has a 100% online event offered timepieces of such quality, be they modern or vintage. This has been made possible only because of our specialists’ substantial reputation in the industry. Besides being the perfect barometer for gauging current collector demand at the global level, Dubai Edit brings together exceptional watchmaking in one innovative format and positions Dubai as a global tech hub for vintage and contemporary collectible watches.”