Sotheby’s Autumn Sale Includes Unique Patek Philippe Reference 1518, Historical Rolexes, and Much More

Sotheby’s autumn sale of Important Watches on Sunday November 13 in Geneva will be spearheaded by the “Clarin Mustad 1518” – a unique Patek Philippe reference 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph that is estimated to sell for between $890,000 and $1,330,000. The sale also includes two Rolex wristwatches that belonged to leaders of the post-World War II era.

The star lot of the sale is the Patek Philippe “Clarin Mustad 1518” ‐ a unique reference 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph. Made on special request in 1944, this watch with attached 18K pink gold brick link bracelet, moon‐phases and French calendar on a specially made pink dial was dedicated to Clarin Mustad (1871‐1948), a Norwegian industrialist who contributed to the emergence of the car industry in Europe.

Produced between 1941 and 1954, the Reference 1518 was the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch to be manufactured in a series by any firm in the world. Forty-seven pink-gold examples are known to exist, and the “Clarin Mustad 1518” is the only one known with such a bracelet and lugs.

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Two Rolex pieces that belonged to world leaders will also be offered. The first is an exceptionally rare Rolex Oyster Perpetual, dating from circa 1948, and possibly offered to the first President of the Republic of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on the occasion of the inauguration of the Indian Republic on January 26, 1950. Estimated at $222,000 to $444,000, this watch is decorated with the map of India in champlevé enamel and has never appeared on the market.

The second historical Rolex is an 18K yellow gold automatic center seconds “Datejust” wristwatch (ref. 6305/1) presented to the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer in 1955. It has been by kept in its original condition by the Chancellor’s descendants and appears for the first time on the market with an estimate of $66,500 to $89,000. Engraved on the back with Konrad Adenauer’s name, this piece of history is accompanied by its original leather folder and a letter dated September 16, 1955 from Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf to the German Chancellor.

Tracing the development of watchmaking from 1574 to the present day, the sale includes important pieces from pivotal moments in horological history, from very fine examples of Renaissance watches to highly complicated modern wristwatches, through luxurious pocket watches made for the Chinese, Ottoman, India and Hispanic markets in the 19th century.

The sale, with 270 lots estimated in excess of CHF 8 million, also includes a large selection of rare vintage and modern wristwatches by the most prestigious watchmakers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Featured pieces include:

- A Patek Philippe World Time ref. 2523 circa 1953 estimated at $440,000 to $886,700.

- Two Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” pieces, references 6264 and 6265.

- A Rolex ref. 1665 COMEX Sea-Dweller.

- An A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite” with special-order pink dial made circa 1994.

- A Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30°.

- A Richard Mille RM012 tourbillon set with diamonds (one of five examples ever produced).

- An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept CW1.

The sale will take place on Sunday November 13 at 8 p.m. at the Beau-Rivage Hotel, Geneva.

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