Geneva, 25 October 2018 – Sotheby’s Geneva is delighted to unveil the highlights of its upcoming auction of Important Watches, to take place on 13 November. The sale, at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, will feature a highly impressive selection of extremely rare pieces, which will include “The Asprey” by Patek Philippe, one of the most important vintage wristwatches in the world, estimated at CHF 2-4 million ($2,040,000 – 4,040,000). This museum-quality piece will lead a selection of exceptional and rare vintage watches by Patek Philippe. With very strong market demand for extraordinary vintage Rolex, we are also delighted to present a number of outstanding wristwatches from the manufacturer from the 1950s to the 1970s, each boasting characteristics highly prized by today’s collectors. The selection of contemporary watches in the sale is led by a unique and breathtaking piece by Richard Mille, ‘The Falcon’ – an exceptional example of the prowess of this important independent watchmaker.

Speaking ahead of the sale, Sam Hines, Global Head of Sotheby’s Watches, commented, “Sotheby’s Geneva is thrilled to present our forthcoming sale. We are very excited with our selection of vintage watches, led by the Patek Philippe 2499 retailed by Asprey. Many of the watches are fresh to the market including the Pulsations dial ref. 6239 and Oyster Sotto by Rolex and the white gold ref. 3448 by Patek Philippe. This is our strongest selection for some years and we are delighted for you to join us in Geneva at our presale exhibition which opens on Saturday the 10th November.”

“THE ASPREY”Exceptional in every way: known simply as ‘The Asprey’, this Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph reference 2499 will lead the Geneva auction on 13 November. Manufactured in 1952 and sold in 1956, this Patek Philippe 2499 1st series was last seen on the market at Sotheby’s in 2006 where it was sold for a staggering 2.2 million Swiss Francs, which not only made it the most expensive 1st series in gold but the highest price ever paid for a 2499. Since then, the watch has become a legend amongst the market and collecting community. The watch has remained in the same private collection since first being discovered in 2006.

Retailed by Asprey of London in 1956, this is the most complicated Patek Philippe sold by the prestigious London jeweller. The dial is double signed by both the manufacture and Asprey, the case is stamped with London hallmarks and the date letter for 1955 and the inside case back too bears London import marks and the Asprey stamp. Lot 220, estimate CHF 2,000,000 – 4,000,000 / $ 2,020,000 – 4,040,000.

VINTAGE MASTERPIECES FROM PATEK PHILIPPETwo other watches by Patek Philippe stand out in particular among Sotheby’s November selection of watches. The first in our upcoming sale is an extraordinary example of the legendary reference 1518 – perhaps the most significant milestone in modern watchmaking history. One of the nicest examples to appear in recent years, this perpetual calendar chronograph in yellow gold from 1950 is awe-inspiring. It illustrates Patek Philippe’s excellence in creating highly complicated wristwatches with simple, stunning aesthetics and has been preserved in a very fine condition. Lot 225, estimate CHF 300,000 – 500,000 / $303,000 – 505,000.

Beloved for its understated aesthetic, Patek Philippe’s reference 3448 was the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch produced in series by the manufacture. While at first glance one notices the apertures displaying the day, month and phases of the moon and the subsidiary dial for the date, the huge desirability of this watch, for those in the know, also stems from its highly complex perpetual calendar feature. The November auction will feature an example of the reference, made in white gold in 1977: one of only around 50 known on the market, in fantastic, original condition. Lot 224, estimate CHF 200,000 – 300,000 / $202,000 – 303,000.

ROLEX: THREE EXCEPTIONAL VINTAGE CHRONOGRAPHSFresh to the market and previously unknown, we will also be offering an extraordinary Rolex Daytona reference 6239 featuring a ‘Pulsometer’. Watches like these, known as medical Daytonas because of the external blue pulsations scale graduated for 15 beats, are among the rarest chronographs ever made. The example to be offered was purchased by the original owner while on holiday and is in outstanding condition – it ticks all the right boxes for a watch to be considered a trophy. Lot 216, estimate CHF 500,000 – 1,000,000 / $505,000 – 1,010,000.

A variant of the incredibly popular ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona, the extremely rare Rolex reference 6263 ‘Oyster Sotto Paul Newman’ is arguably one of the most sought-after models from the famed Swiss brand. Fewer than 20 pieces were made featuring the black ‘Oyster Sotto’ dial; they are more frequently found with white dials. The expression is borrowed from Italian, in which ‘sotto’ means ‘beneath’ - referring to the order in which the words Rolex, Cosmograph and Oyster appear on the dial. It is exceptionally rare to see this arrangement of the text, and the Important Watches sale will include such an example, a piece which has never been offered at auction before, adding to its appeal. Lot 248, estimate CHF 500,000 – 1,000,000 / $505,000 – 1,010,000.

In today’s exciting market for vintage Rolex watches, the ‘Panda’ Paul Newman, reference 6263 (named for the colour combination of a pale main dial and darker subsidiary dials, reminiscent of the colouring of giant panda bears) is one of the most in-demand. Bidders in our upcoming sale will be have the opportunity to acquire an outstanding example, made in 1970, in excellent condition. Lot 194, estimate CHF 300,000 – 600,000 / $303,000 – 610,000.

PERFECT PATINA: TWO 1950s ROLEXES WITH TROPICAL DIALSThe Rolex reference 6538 ‘Big Crown’ Submariner embodies many of the most sought-after elements on today’s auction market. Produced from 1955 onwards, the reference is famous for its larger-sized Brevet crown which sets it apart. Further adding to the watch’s appeal is a slightly thinner case, as well as its appearance on the wrist of Sean Connery in the first James Bond blockbuster, Dr. No. The November sale will offer a 1959 piece, whose beautifully aged ‘tropical’ dial adds another dimension to its desirability. Originally gloss black, it has taken on an appealing brown patina of varying shades, and the once-smooth lacquer has cracked, resulting in an appealing effect which vintage watch enthusiasts describe as a ‘Spider Dial’. Lot 210, estimate CHF 100,000 – 200,000 / $101,000 – 202,000.

Rolex’s GMT-Master series is imbued with the mid-century glamour of early air travel: it was designed specifically for the pilots of the most successful airline of the 1950s, Pan Am. To help combat the new phenomenon of jetlag, Rolex introduced a rotating bezel to allow pilots to keep track of two time zones simultaneously. The two-colour design in red and blue – a feature now beloved by vintage collectors – was developed to signify daylight and nighttime hours. We are delighted to present an example of the series, reference 6542, which boasts several additional features which make it even rarer. Over time, its dial has developed a rich golden colour known as ‘tropical’, and its bezel is made of bakelite, the original material used in the 1950s but which proved to be prone to cracking and was later replaced by plastic or metal. These are highly prized features for today’s collectors, who value original components and seek out watches which have survived intact. Lot 209, estimate CHF 80,000 – 120,000 - $81,000 – 122,000.

RICHARD MILLE’S CONTEMPORARY MASTERYA relatively ‘young’ manufacturer, having been founded in 1999, Richard Mille has succeeded in building an extremely strong reputation for combining extraordinary quality of workmanship with innovative design. A perfect illustration of this is a stunning skeletonised tourbillon wristwatch, dubbed ‘The Falcon’. The piece is entirely unique and its impressive complications – power reserve indication, a free spring balance and a tourbillon – are matched only by the extraordinary craftsmanship of its specially-commissioned hand chased falcon dial and black sapphire-set case. Lot 228, estimate CHF 800,000 – 1,200,000 / $810,000 – 1,220,000.