Antiquorum

Everest Explorer Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex Collection Up for Auction

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Sports, Men's Style

Antiquorum's sale of Important Vintage and Modern Timepieces to be held Nov. 13 – 14 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva will include the personal collection of Rolex watches of the legendary 20th century explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, credited with being the first climber to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953. These exceptional timepieces have been consigned for sale by Lady Hillary and all had special significance for Sir Edmund. The earliest model in the collection is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, ref. 6084, dating from 1953 (above) which was presented to Sir Edmund by Rolex Bosecks of Calcutta, India after his descent from Everest.

It was then worn by him during the Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-1958 – the first overland crossing of Antarctica and the first expedition to reach the South Pole since Scott in 1912 – and as such it has immense historic significance. The watch, with a caseback engraved "Sir E. Hillary", is conservatively estimated to fetch up to about $20,000. Also part of the collection is a gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, ref. 15238, purchased by the explorer on the 50th Anniversary of the day he reached the summit of Everest, estimated at about $10,000; as well as a 1972 Rolex Explorer I and a 1973 Explorer II also owned by the great adventurer.

Gallery: Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex Collection

Tags: Antiquorum, auction, explorer, Geneva, India, Mt. Everest, Rolex, Rolex Explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary, Timepieces, watches

Hublot Is Top Lot In Antiquorum MS Charity Watch Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Charity

A one of a kind Hublot Aero Bang watch recently lead the pack at an Antiquorum auction intended to raise money for the treatment of MS, Specifically to the The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The gold and ceramic Hublot watch has a skeletonized dial and it 44.5mm wide. It was among a number of luxury watches donated to the auction event. While not alone, Hublot has been especially generous over the last few years when it comes to charitable giving - and doing it in unique and fun ways (as opposed to quietly donating money).

At auction, this piece unique watch went away with a winning bid of $23,000. amazingly beating prices received for watches donated by highly respected brands such as A. Lange & Sohne, IWC, and Zenith. You can see the full list of lots and yields here at Antiquorum.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: aero bang, antiquorum, auction, charity, hublot, ms

Christophe Claret Music Box Watch Up For Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This has got to be an extremely rare timepiece. I thought the Christophe Claret Dual Tow was the first timepiece the genius watch maker made with his name on it. I guess I was wrong. Looks like a few years back he made timepieces like this. I don't think Claret ever really marketed watches like this as this is the first time I have heard of them. I understand that Claret started his career building incredibly complex minute repeater watches. So a music watch like this music box watch isn't a terrible stretch of the imagination. The dial of the watch almost masks its special function, having a traditional Breguet style dial with the time, a power reserve indicator, and one other indicator.

In 18k rose gold, the watch contains a traditional pin wheel style music box. A very intense mainspring barrel is likely utilized in storing the power needed to play either Strauss' Imperial Waltz, or C. Chaplin's "The Little Bootees -" the two songs available in the cylinder. The music can be played manually, or set to play automatically each hour. Make sure you keep that spring wound! Given that it has two mainspring barrels that aren't connected, winding the watch crown in one direction will wind one spring, while winding it in the opposite direction will wind another. It is unknown what this beautiful watch originally retailed for, but auction estimates have it going for between about $70,000 - $90,000.

This Christophe Claret Music Box watch No. 8 and other watches will be available to bidding during Antiquorum's October 9th auction in Hong Kong.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Antiquorum, auction, christophe claret, music box, watch

Patek Philippe 5104 Watch - Not Ready For The Auction House?

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

Very soon Antiquorum will hold another one of its well-publicized watch and clock auctions in New York City. A few times a year, the group works to wow watch lovers with its rare and interesting timepieces that often go for "record breaking" prices. Unsurprisingly, these auctions are usually headlined by a rare Patek Philippe watch - the existence of which is so common given that at least a few are are showcased each auction, I wonder how rare, a rate Patek Philippe watch actually is. This upcoming auction, the featured piece is a high-end Patek Philippe Ref. 5104 watch. A complex, skeletonized timepiece made about two years ago. It has Patek's interesting Caliber R 27 PS QR automatic movement with a host of complications including a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, and micro rotor for the automatic winding. The platinum case is 43mm wide and has 18k red gold on its sides in a decorative style similar to that on the famous Sky Moon Tourbillon. The real thing people notice about the watch is the skeletonization - which is rather intense. The watch is still pretty easy to read actually. The sapphire crystal disc dials on the face have a small blue hands behind them that highlight the correct information. Of interest as well is the retrograde periphery style date indicator. Released so recently, there are still a few Ref. 5104 watches on the market new, so is an auction right now wise?

With an estimated auction price of $500,000 - $700,000, the watch has a ceiling price of $700,000 because you can probably still get a new one at that price. Antiquorum loves to boast about how their Patek Philippe watches often get prices above estimate - but that won't likely happen here for this newer Patek Philippe watch. Not that the price is cheap (by any means), but Antiquorum might be doing itself harm by highlighting a piece that won't reach extraordinary prices. The ceiling price is what ever the lowest price one of these watches costs new. It makes much more sense for the auction house to showcase unavailable, or otherwise very hard to get watches. I did a simple Google search and found at least two of these watches are available online. A lukewarm yield for the 5104 watch could slightly harm the sharp momentum that rare Patek Philippe watches are gaining on the collector's and auction market. Just my two cents.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 5104, antiquorum, auction, patek philippe

Sammy Davis Jr.'s Heuer Monaco at Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping

Steve McQueen made the Heuer Monaco famous in 1971's racing film Le Mans, but does Rat Pack-er Sammy Davis Jr. deserve credit for adopting it before the King of Cool? A 1969 Monaco (above) that belonged to Davis Jr. and which he wore on a trip to Vietnam to entertain the troops is being offered for sale during Antiquorum's Important Collectors' Wristwatches, Pocket Watches & Clocks sale in New York on June 10. The classic square-faced chronograph designed for motor racing was recently re-introduced by TAG Heuer in celebration of the model's 40th anniversary. Last year McQueen's own Monaco sold at auction for a world record $87,600. Davis' watch carries an estimate of only $4,000 – $6,000, but will probably fetch much more than that.

Tags: Antiquorum, Heuer, Heuer Monaco, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve McQueen, TAG Heuer, watches

Rare '60s "Paul Newman" Rolex Daytonas at Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

On March 10th and 11th in NYC Antiquorum will present its Important Collectors' Wristwatch sale featuring an amazing collection of valuable timepieces. Our favorites are two beautiful "Paul Newman" Rolex Daytonas (right) from the 1960s.

The first is a ref. 6239 stainless steel Daytona made circa 1963 with round button chronograph, estimated at $30,000 - $50,000. The second is a ref. 6241 stainless steel Daytona produced in 1968 with an anti-reflective black tachometer bezel and round button chronograph, estimated at $50,000 - $70,000.

Also for the Rolex enthusiast is a rare stainless Sea-Dweller diver's watch, Ref. 1665, with a "Double Red" Mark II tropical dial and thin case produced in 1967 with a double red Sea-Dweller logo, estimated at $30,000 - $40,000.

Tags: Antiquorum, New York, NewYork, Paul Newman, PaulNewman, Rolex, Rolex Daytona, RolexDaytona

Record Amount For Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 At Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

Another Antiquorum auction and another world record amount for the sale of a specific Patek Philippe watch. Just recently a Black on black Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 perpetual calendar watch in white gold sold for a whopping $1.2 million dollars. The watch is just 10 years old, and others like it have been auctioned off more than once in the last few years. Meaning that while this is not so rare a Patek Philippe watch that it does not come up for auction often. In recent times the depressed economy has somehow been a boom time for Patek Philippe collectors watches at auction. It seems that in almost every new Antiquorum action where a special Patek Philippe watch available, a new record is met. Pretty much any Patek Philippe watch they offer goes for an amount above $100,000.

In this instance, the Ref. 3974 watch is of the most desirable modern Patek Philippe watches and was last made in 1999. The watch features an automatic Patek Philippe movement with the time, perpetual calendar, moon phase indicator, and a minute repeater complication. All that and the watch is small at just 36mm wide. The over one millions dollar amount is truly stunning and reflect the tenacity of the market as well as the collectible nature of the Patek Philippe brand.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: antiquorum, auction, patek philippe, PatekPhilippe, record, ref. 3974, Ref.3974, watch

Rare Patek Philippe Worth Over $1 Million Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

In addition to the collection of professional divers' Rolexes we wrote about the other day, Antiquorum will auction off a rare Patek Philippe platinum wristwatch worth over $1 million in NYC on Dec. 9.

The extraordinary Patek Philippe Ref. 3974, produced in 1999, is a minute repeating wristwatch with a black dial, perpetual calendar and moon phases, on an alligator strap.

Prior to this sale, only three models of this reference in platinum have ever been sold at auction. This outstanding timepiece was offered with two additional dials as noted in the extract from Patek Philippe's archives.

Also of interest for the Patek aficionado is the Patek Philippe Ref. 3450 with transparent case back. Made in 1983, it is a very fine and extremely rare 18K yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases, and leap year indicator, estimated at $200,000 - $300,000.

Tags: Antiquorum, Patek Philippe, PatekPhilippe, platinum, watches

Renowned Diver's Rolex Collection Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions, Sports

Antiquorum's auction on On December 9th in New York will include an exceptional collection of Rolex watches formerly owned by world renowned record holding diver Patrice Chemin. Chemin joined Comex in the early 1970's and was selected to participate in several hyperbaric experimental dives including Physalie V, a world record dive at 530 m (1706 ft) in 1970, and Physalie VI at 610m (2001 ft) in 1972 – a world record that he held for 11 years. His collection includes a Rolex 'Comex' Ref. 5514, a Rolex 'Double Red' Sea-Dweller and a Rolex 'Comex' Ref. 168000. The Rolex Comex Ref. 5514 (above) is a very rare stainless steel diver's wristwatch with first generation helium escapement valve and a 'maxi' dial. It is being offered along with Mr. Chemin's diving helmet with an estimate of $40,000 - $ 60,000. The 'Double Red' SeaDweller from 1972 is estimated at $25,000 - $45,000.

Tags: Antiquorum, Comex, diving, Patrice Chemin, PatriceChemin, Rolex

Patek Philippe Pocket Watch Sells for $5 Million, Sets New World Record

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

A Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calibre 89 pocket watch, the world's most complex timepiece as mentioned by my colleague Ariel Adams last month, just sold for a world record price of CHF 5,120,000, or $5.068 million at Antiquorum's 35th Anniversary Sale in Geneva. "The incredible result realized for the Calibre 89 in our 35th anniversary auction indicates that the market for the most complicated and important watches in the world remains exceptionally strong," notes Antiquorum Chairman Robert Maron. "We are extremely honored to have sold this exceptional and unique timepiece for the second time in Antiquorum's history and are thrilled that we have once again achieved a world record price at auction." With a staggering 33 complications, the watch weighs nearly 2.5 lbs. and has an 18k yellow gold case. It was made to honor the 150th anniversary of the famed Swiss watchmaker.

Tags: Antiquorum, Geneva, Patek Philippe, PatekPhilippe, pocket watch, PocketWatch, world record, WorldRecord

Patek Philippe Caliber 89, Most Complex Timepiece On The Planet To be Auctioned Off

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

While the Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Sonnerie may be the most complicated wrist watch in the world, this Patek Philippe Caliber 89 pocket watch made in 1989 remains the most complex timepiece in the world. With a staggering 33 complication, both side of the dial are filled with hands and subdials. The pocket watch is very thick and weights1.1kg! The case is done in 18k yellow gold. It was made to honor the 150th anniversary of the important Swiss brand. While I am not prepared to engage in list making, you can learn all the Caliber 89's functions here.

Coincidentally, for auction house Antiquorum's 35th anniversary, a Patek Philippe Caliber 89 pocket will be auctioned off. Even in these rough times, record amounts for Patek Philippe watches have been achieved at auction. So perhaps it is a good time to auction the Caliber 89 off. In 2004, this same watch was sold at auction for $5 million. The watch took 5 years to research and 4 years to make. It is estimated to yield between $4.4 - $5.4 million, but has an estimated value of $6 million. The auction will be held on November 14-15, and the Patek Philippe Caliber 89 will be lot 364, the final lot of the auction.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Patek Philippe Caliber 89

Tags: antiquorum, auction, complicated, Patek Philippe Caliber 89, PatekPhilippeCaliber89, pocket, timepiece, watch, worlds most, WorldsMost

Vacheron Constantin Watch Belonging to Marlon Brando To be Auctioned off

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

History is filled with special occasion mementos - gifts and relics that help symbolize the times and people we admired or looked to. Watches seem to have a historical relevancy during such instances. Where commemorative watches are either produced for a special event, or just naturally thrown into such events. Old (as well as perhaps modern) Hollywood was filled with the exchange of celebratory gifts. Watch makers located in Hollywood at the time no doubt had a network of personal engravers waiting to personalize a watch - no matter what the request. I find it fascinating to see the many styles of engraving that was done at the time. Here you see engraving that is meant to look more formal, though obviously done by hand, and I've also seen engravings meant to replicate someone's hand writing.

This all has to do with this timepiece being auctioned off later this month by Antiquorum in New York. This is a Gold cased Vacheron Constantin watch that was given to Marlon Brando by Zsa Zsa Gabor in 1954. The watch was produced around that time as well, and represents a style of guilloche engraved dial decoration that you don't see these days anymore. It is said that the watch was given to Brando by Gabor when "On The Waterfront" was released in theaters. The movie went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as Best Actor for Brando. It is interesting to think about the message she wrote to him. Space was of course limited on the back of the watch, but other than the fact that Gabor was giving it to Brando on a specific date, it is hard to delineate what their relationship was. Maybe it included a message that only they understood. A Vacheron Constantin watch was a luxury watch back then, as it is now. Conservative auction estimates have this watch going for only $3,000 - $8,000.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: antiquorum, auction, marlon brando, MarlonBrando, on the waterfront, OnTheWaterfront, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch, zsa zsa gabor, ZsaZsaGabor

Patek Philippe Minute Repeater Tourbillon Platinum Watch To Be Up For Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Patek Philippe minute repeater tourbillon

Antiquorum's catalog of watches and clocks to be auctioned off in September is over 300 pages long, and there are some cool ones this time around. Nevertheless, Patek Philippe is bound to be the most desirable brand if past auctions this year have been any indicator. Going for an estimated $400,000 - $600,000 this Patek Philippe Ref. 3939HP watch might be the star of the auction. These conservative estimates will likely be beat.

This watch was uniquely made per a customer request to have a black dial, and a silver dial is also included (not exactly user changeable). The platinum cased watch hides the most desirable elements which are a tourbillon based movement as well as a minute repeater complication (operated with the lever on the left side of the watch). Aside from that the dial is very simple, with elegant Arabic numerals and pomme hands. The subsidiary seconds dial tells most of the story. The watch was originally sold in the year 2000. We will wait until next month to see what the final bid will be for this collectible Patek Philippe.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 3939, 3939hp, antiquorum, minute repeater, MinuteRepeater, patek philippe, PatekPhilippe, tourbillon, watch

Steve McQueen's Vintage Rolex Sells for $234,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping

Steve McQueen's classic 1967 Rolex Submariner (right) sold for $234,000 - 20 times its estimate - at Antiquorum's Important Collectors' Wristwatches auction in New York Friday, setting a new world record for its reference.

In addition, McQueen's 1929 Scott Super Squirrel motorcycle, painted by Von Dutch, fetched an astounding $ 276,000 - double its estimate. And the Heuer Monaco watch that the actor wore in the 1971 racing film Le Mans sold for a world record $87,600.

"Today's auction is clear confirmation that in the current market, collectors are looking for horological rarities with noteworthy provenance, such as Steve McQueen's Rolex and Heuer," notes Evan Zimmermann, President & CEO of Antiquorum.

Gallery: Steve McQueen at Antiquorum

The Von Dutch 1929 Scott 596cc Super Squirrel

Tags: Antiquorum, Heuer, motorcycle, Rolex, Rolex Submariner, RolexSubmariner, Steve McQueen, SteveMcqueen

Orlando Bloom's Rolex Collection for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Charity

Three amazing Rolex watches from the collection of actor Orlando Bloom are included in Antiquorum's Important Collectors' Wristwatches auction in New York on June 11. Our favorite is this fine and rare 1973 Explorer II "Steve McQueen" model, highly prized by Rolex aficionados, which Bloom wore on a leather cuff bracelet, estimated at $10,000 - $15,000, though we expect it to fetch considerably more. There's also a black PVD-coated steel Milgauss anti-magnetic chronometer produced in 2008, estimated at $10,000 - $15,000, and a cool 1969 Explorer, estimated at only $3,000 - $4,000. All of Bloom's watches come accompanied by an autographed copy of the auction catalog, and he is donating part of the proceeds to UNICEF.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Antiquorum, celebrity, Orlando Bloom, OrlandoBloom, Rolex, Steve McQueen, SteveMcqueen, UNICEF