All eyes will be on the glittering prizes in Switzerland this month. Phillips marks its entry into the international watch field on May 9, with an auction dedicated to Rolex Day-Dates in consultation with Pucci Papaleo — who, according to the house’s senior consultant Aurel Bacs, “is among the world’s most eminent scholars of collectible Rolex watches.” Papaleo will publish a book on this glamorous model in time for the sale. The house follows it up with a various-owners sale of fine and rare watches on May 10. Among the 160 or so timepieces on offer is an 18-karat yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with perpetual calendar by Patek Philippe, estimated at a near-dollar-par CHF 300,000 to CHF 500,000. Antiquorum also hosts a sale of rare and fine timepieces on the 10th, and Christie’s holds its important Watches sale the following day. On May 12, Sotheby’s presents the Sunrise Ruby, which David Bennett, worldwide chairman of the house’s jewelry division, describes as “a superb and extremely rare Burmese stone weighing 25.59 carats, mounted as a ring with diamonds by Cartier,” tagged at CHF 11.5 million to CHF 17 million. Also from Cartier is a splendid two- row natural pearl necklace (est. CHF 5.7–9.5 million). On May 13, Christie’s hosts its Magnificent Jewels sale, and Sotheby’s presents Important Watches. “Collectors will find exceptional pieces ranging from classic wristwatches to grand complications,” says Pedro Reiser, department manager of Sotheby’s watch division. “The sale encompasses a great variety of manufacturers, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, and Breguet.” One fine example: an extremely rare white gold automatic astronomical wristwatch with sky chart phases, by Patek Philippe, with an estimate of CHF 150,000 to CHF 250,000.A version of this article appears in the May 2015 issue of Art + Auction.
↧