Jun 17, 2014
Reading time 4 min.
The 5 Top Patek Philippe Watches in Antiquorum's June Watch Auction
Antiquorum's next "Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces" auction will be held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong on June 28. More than 532 watches will be on the block and highlighted, as per usual, by several important models from Patek Philippe. Here are the five Patek Philippe watches expected to draw the most attention (and, perhaps, the biggest bucks) at the auction.
The headliner of the Hong Kong sale is the Patek Philippe Ref. 5029, (Lot 532), an automatic minute repeater watch in a platinum case, made in a limited edition of just 10 pieces in 1997 to commemorate the inauguration of the new Patek Philippe factory in Geneva. Obviously, this watch's extreme rarity will make it enticing, as will its chronometer-certified minute-repeater movement. The watch comes on a black leather strap with a platinum Patek Philippe buckle. It is accompanied by an Extract from the Archives and its own commemorative medal. Antiquorum estimates its sale price at 3,100,000 HKD to 4,600,000 HKD (all price estimates are in Hong Kong dollars).
Patek Philippe Ref. 5029 (Lot 532)
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Also expected to draw major interest is another Patek Philippe minute repeater watch, the Patek Philippe Ref. 3979, another rare model, made in 1999. Like the Ref. 5029, this watch has a platinum case and buckle, but also features an enamel dial. Designated Lot 531, this Patek Philippe watch comes in its original fitted mahogany presentation box and includes an Extract from the Archives. It is expected to fetch 3,000,000 to 4,600,000 HKD.
Patek Philippe Ref. 3979 (Lot 531)
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Patek Philippe collectors and enthusiasts should also be intrigued by the Patek Philippe Ref. 2438-1, an 18K yellow gold watch equipped with a perpetual calendar and moon-phase display along with an 18k yellow-gold Tiffany & Co. bracelet and a special insignia on the dial at 12 o'clock. This vintage Patek Philippe watch, made in 1955 and sold in 1963, has been unseen thus far on the auction market and is is the first example ever to feature this unusual insignia, whose origin is unknown. The consignor claims that the watch was gifted to a prominent person who was part of the royal dynasty in the former Kingdom of Mysore before it became part of India in 1950, although this information cannot be verified. The watch (Lot 530) is accompanied by an Extract from the Archive and is estimated to sell for 2,100,000 HKD to 2,700,000 HKD.
Patek Philippe Ref. 2438 (Lot 530)
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Antiquorum expects another Patek Philippe watch in a platinum case, one of more recent vintage, to be a favorite. The Patek Philippe Ref. 5004P (Lot 122) was made in 2008 and contains a number of complications, including a split-seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar with moon-phases and leap year, and a 24-hour time indication. It also has a platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp and comes with an array of extras: the original fitted wooden box, Certificate of Origin, instructions, an additional solid platinum caseback, a setting pin and a hang tag. It's estimated at 1,700,000 HKD to 2,200,000 HKD.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5004
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Yet another platinum-cased Patek Philippe watch, this one with 36 baguette sapphires set in its bezel and 22 baguette sapphires set in its platinum deployant clasp, rounds out the top 5 Patek watches in the June 28 auction. This rare Patek Philippe Philippe Ref. 5961P (Lot 115) contains a flyback chronograph with round push-buttons, a subdial with combined 30/60-minute and 12-hour totalizer, an annual calendar function with day-night indication and power-reserve display. Its sale estimate is 600,000 to 800,000 HKD.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5961
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In addition to the Patek Philippe models, other highlights of the Antiquorum's Hong Kong auction will include a Rolex Paul Newman (Ref. 6239), made in 1965; a Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Jackpot Tourbillon in 18K rose gold (Ref. 99720) with slot-machine function, made circa 2007; and a Harry Winston Opus 7, No. 10/50, in 18K white gold, sold in 2008.
