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$2.7 Million Patek Philippe Watch Stars in Christie's Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

Patek Philippe single-button chronograph

An extremely important white gold Patek Philippe single-button chronograph from 1928, undoubtedly the only one of its kind, is expected to fetch up to $2.7 million at Christie's Important Watches sale in Geneva on May 16.

Created in 1928 on the eve of the stock market crash, the unique and complicated 1928 chronograph was a bespoke commission from one of Patek Philippe's most important patrons, though his exact identity is unknown.

The cushion-shaped wristwatch, with vertically positioned registers and Breguet numerals, is the only known example extant of a single-button chronograph by Patek Philippe made in white gold.

As such, it's perfectly possible that it could end up selling for more than $2.7 million, especially with the buoyant market for such horological masterpieces at the moment.

[via JustLuxe]


Tags: auctions, bespoke, Christies, chronograph, Geneva, gold, most expensive watches, Patek Philippe, watches, white gold

Ralph Lauren's Cars, Private Parrot Cay Villa & More in Bid to Save the Earth Auction - Part 2

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Charity, Celebrity Design

Parrot Cay Villa for auction in Bid to Save the Earth

Last week we reported on the host of international celebrities, creative icons, industry leaders and conservationists joining together with famed auction house Christie's to support the 2011 Green Auction, a momentous live event and companion online auction raising funds and awareness for the preservation and sustainability of the planet.

Christie's has partnered with luxury charity auction site charitybuzz.com to put more than 200 coveted auction packages online from now through April 7 to raise funds for Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Conservation International and the Central Park Conservancy. Supporters can make a Bid to Save the Earth at www.charitybuzz.com/BidtoSavetheEarth.

A companion invite-only event and live fantasy auction hosted by Seth Meyers will be held at Christie's New York on March 29 in partnership with Vogue's Runway to Green. The event will feature a fashion show sponsored by Tiffany & Co. on the night of the live auction, with designer collection selections available online through Net-A-Porter.com.

In part one of our report on the incredible experiences on offer, we focused on the big ticket items estimated at over $100,000 apiece, including a ride with Harrison Ford on his private plane. Now we're selecting some of our favorite lots across a range of expected prices (N.B.: Lagerfeld and Ducasse are being auctioned off live tonight):


Tags: Alain Ducasse, auctions, bid to save the earth, celebrity auctions, Chanel, charity, Charity Buzz, Christies, christies+bid+to+save+the+earth, christiesbidtosavetheearth, environment, Ferrari, Girard-Perregaux, green+auction, greenauction, Karl Lagerfeld, luxury travel, Paris, Parrot Cay, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren car collection, Robert F. Kennedy, Turks and Caicos

Continue reading “Ralph Lauren's Cars, Private Parrot Cay Villa & More in Bid to Save the Earth Auction - Part 2”

Jenson Button's Ferrari to Sell At Bonhams

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Jenson Button Ferrari

A 1978 Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer owned by British Formula One driver Jenson Button is to be sold by Bonhams at its sale of Collectors' Motor Cars at the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK on the 11th of April. The car, which was bought last year by Button, the then-reigning Formula One World Champion, has attracted a pre-sale estimate of up to $180,000.


Tags: auctions, Bonhams, celebrity cars, Ferrari, Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer, Formula One, Jenson Button, racing, UK

Continue reading “Jenson Button's Ferrari to Sell At Bonhams”

Steve McQueen's Famed 1970 Porsche 911S at Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist


RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house, will offer Steve McQueen's iconic 1970 Porsche 911S, featured in his epic Hollywood film Le Mans, at its highly-anticipated Monterey sale in California on August 18 – 20. Built to the highest 1970 specification, complete with air conditioning and a full complement of factory options, the slate grey 911S stars in the film's legendary opening sequence as McQueen's character, hotshot Porsche driver Michael Delaney, drives through the French countryside reflecting on life, death, and racing.

In addition to its starring role in the film, the Porsche 911S was used as Steve McQueen's personal transport during the movie's production, later joining his own stable of extraordinary motor cars in California – a collection that over the years included everything from a Jaguar XK-SS, multiple Ferraris, Porsches, airplanes, motorcycles and everything in between. Today, the 911S is presented in exceptionally original condition, and is offered from the collection of one of America's foremost Porsche aficionados.


Tags: 1970+911s, 1970+porsche+911s, 1970911s, 1970porsche911s, amelia+island, ameliaisland, auctions, California, car collection, celebrity car, classic cars, king of cool, king of cools cars, Le Mans, McQueens Machines, Porsche, Porsche 911, Porsche 911S, porsche+911+auction, porsche911auction, RM Auctions, Steve McQueen, Steve McQueen cars, Steve McQueen Porsche, steve+mcqueen+911, steve+mcqueen+911s, steve+mcqueen+car+auction, steve+mcqueen+porsche+911, stevemcqueen911, stevemcqueen911s, stevemcqueencarauction, stevemcqueenporsche911

Henry Royce's Last Rolls-Royce Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Henry Royce's Last Rolls-Royce Up for Auction
A 1929 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom II Weymann Sports Saloon, reputedly the last model that the marque's co-founder Henry Royce designed himself, is one of the highlights of the Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia sale at Bonhams in Oxford, UK on March 5th. The rare vehicle is expected to fetch up to $325,000. The now legendary Phantom II chassis provided a platform for some of the truly outstanding designs of its day, and was highly favored by prominent coachbuilders. The example offered by Bonhams carries Weymann-type sports saloon coachwork by the famed firm of H J Mulliner. It's presented in perfect condition having undergone a complete restoration and is perfectly capable of high speed road trips and classic car rallies. Or you could just sit and look at it all day.


Tags: 1920s, antique cars, auctions, Bonhams, British cars, classic cars, classic Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom II, UK

Did Abramovich Just Bag a Bacon for $37 Million at Sotheby's?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art, Wealth


Last month when we wrote about an important Francis Bacon triptych being auctioned off at Sotheby's, we predicted it would blast past its $14 million high estimate. And indeed on Thursday Three Studies for a Portrait of Lucian Freud (above) sold for a whopping $37 million, or more than two and a half times the top quote, at the auction house's Looking Closely sale of 20th century artworks in London. In our original post we also put forward Bacon-loving oligarch Roman Abramovich as the likely buyer, since he's in the midst of decorating his new $230 million mega-mansion in London; while Thursday's purchaser was anonymous, we bet the Freud triptych will be hanging on Abramovich's wall before long. The Thursday sale, from works said to have belonged to the low-profile Geneva collector George Kostalitz who died last year, also saw a new auction record for any surrealist work of art – Salvador Dali's Portrait de Paul Eluard, which sold for $21.6 million.


Tags: art, auctions, contemporary art, Francis Bacon, London, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, Salvador Dali, Sothebys, wealth

Picasso's La Lecture Sells Above Estimate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art


A portrait of Picasso's mistress reading led the sales results Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Evening sale on Tuesday night in London. Pablo Picasso's iconic 1932 painting of Marie-Thérèse Walter, La Lecture was hammered down at £25,241,250 ($40,711,612) more than double the low estimate of £12 – 18 million. The bidding ended after a spirited battle among at least seven bidders, both on the phone and in the salesroom. It sold to an anonymous buyer bidding over the telephone. The sale brought in a total £68,834,400 falling neatly within the pre-sale estimate of £55,630,000 - 79,250,000. The sale was 84.5% sold by value and the average lot value for the works was £2.15 million/ $3.5 million.

Last year another painting from the same year also featuring Picasso's beloved mistress Marie-Therese Walter, Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust, sold for $106.5 million at Christies setting a record for Picasso and for any artwork sold at auction. La Lecture was acquired by the present owner in 1996.Picasso first saw young Marie-Thérèse on the streets of Paris in 1927, when she was just seventeen years old. Because of her age and the status of his marriage to Olga Khokhlova the relationship was kept quiet for several years. This painting was part of a colorful explosion of works painted in January 1932 in anticipation of the major retrospective that he was planning. The famous Le Reve which is currently owned by Steve Wynn is also from this highly fertile time period.

Helena Newman, Chairman, Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Europe reported that buyers came from 11 countries, with bidding from Asia, Russia, the US and Europe. Other highlights includes a sculpture by Marino Marini which sold for £4,185,250 and Henry Moore's important large-scale Reclining Connected Forms which brought in £2,057,250. A new auction record was achieved for a work on paper by Surrealist artist René Magritte with the sale of Le Maître d'École for £2,505,250. The gouache on paper depicting Magritte's iconic bowler-hatted man sold for over double the pre-sale estimate of £800,000 – 1.2 million and double the previous record for a work on paper. A record price in sterling was also reached for Giorgio Morandi's Natura Morta, which sold for £1,385,250 against an estimate of £800,000- £1.2 million.


Tags: art, auctions, marie-therese walter, pablo picasso, picasso, sothebys

Rare 1950s Ferraris on Offer at RM Amelia Island

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist

Rare 1950s Ferraris on Offer at RM Amelia Island
A remarkable 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta (above), and a rare and highly original 1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupé by Vignale which sat in a garage for over 25 years, are set to cross the auction block on March 12 as part of RM Auctions' annual Amelia Island sale. One of only three Berlinettas built, the 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico boasts an impressive competition history having been successfully campaigned at a number of the world's most prestigious racing events, including the 1953 Mille Miglia. Purchased by its current owner in 1979, it comes to market following long-term display at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Indiana and is estimated at $2.75 million - $3.5 million.

Considered one of the most original examples in existence, the early production Ferrari 212 Inter Coupé is one of just six examples bodied by Vignale, and was displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1953. Since the mid-1980s, it has sat untouched in a private garage in the Midwest, emerging for the first time in decades just last week. Presented in very original condition, with the exception of its paint which was returned to its original color scheme of black with a green roof and fins in 1979, it's offered in 'as is' condition with an estimate of $375,000 - $500,000. Other desirable Ferraris in the sale include a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS (est. $650,000 - $800,000), and a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Boano Berlinetta, est. $550,000 - $650,000.

Gallery: RM Ferraris at Amelia Island 2011

1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe


Tags: Amelia Island, auctions, classic cars, Ferrari, Mille Miglia, RM Auctions

Will Richard Prince's Naughty Nurse Paintings Nosedive?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art


While the market for some blue-chip contemporary art stars has rebounded from the recession, for others it remains a rocky ride. Take Richard Prince, the master of appropriation who gained widespread fame outside the art world for a collaboration with Louis Vuitton in 2007. His naughty nurse series - basically pulp fiction book covers he scanned and painted over - were a flop when they first debuted in 2002, but soon became hot commodities in the boom years before the economy went belly up. In 2008, Sotheby's in London set a record with the sale of Prince's 2002 Overseas Nurse for an eye-popping $8.5 million.

At Christie's' upcoming Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction in London on Feb. 16, however, another 2002 work, The Taming of Nurse Conway, is only expected to fetch $1.4 million to $1.9 million. It would appear the auction house's experts aren't confident of achieving a result comparable to that of Phillips de Pury, who knocked down 2004's Nurse in Hollywood #4 for an impressive $6.5 milllion back in May – which might have been a one-off considering his 2002 Millionaire Nurse (above) only brought in $2.8 million at Sotheby's in London in June. Of course that was before the Euro really went down the tubes. No doubt Prince's prices will recover when the currency of so many collectors does.


Tags: art, auctions, Christies, contemporary art, Louis Vuitton, Phillips de Pury, Richard Prince, Sothebys

EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist, Wealth


Last summer we reported that Mohamed al Fayed had sold famed London department store Harrods to Qatar's royal family for $2.2 billion. Now the ultra-rich businessman, equally well known as the father of the late Princess Diana's lover Dodi Fayed, is selling off his incredible car collection, featuring stunning custom classic Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and more. There are ten cars in all from al Fayed's collection starring in Bonhams' Paris sale of Motor Cars at the Grand Palais on Feb. 5 - chief among them being the 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 originally owned by John Lennon, expected to fetch up to $220,000, which we can now exclusively reveal comes from al Fayed's collection and was in fact owned by Dodi Fayed.

Next up are a remarkable pair of classic Rolls-Royce motorcars which al Fayed has refinished in custom Harrods Green livery, one with a royal pedigree. The 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine (above) was the property of H.R.H. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent until al Fayed acquired it in 1996, and is expected to fetch up to $200,000. The Duke of Kent's Rolls, which was originally painted black, still has its blue bullet lamp on the roof signifying Royal ownership. There's also a matching Harrods Green 1969 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine, estimated at up to $240,000. Read on for the full list of al Fayed's cars being offered for sale, including several other Ferraris:

Gallery: Mohamed al Fayed's Car Collection at Bonhams

1988 Ferrari Testarossa1979 Ferrari 400i1966 Ferrari 330 GTC BerlinettaEx-Duke of Kent 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V1972 Ferrari 365 GTC4 Coupe


Tags: auctions, Bonhams, British royalty, classic cars, department store, Dodi Fayed, Ferrari, Harrods, London, mohamed+al+fayed, mohamedalfayed, Mohammed al Fayed, Paris, Princess Diana, Rolls-Royce, royalty, UK

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection”

Christie's Sells Record-Breaking $91 Million Worth of Watches in 2010

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions


With its final auction of the fall season on December 14 in New York, including the stunning collection of rare Rolexes we wrote about the other day, Christie's International wrapped up a record-breaking year for fine and rare watches that realized an astonishing $91.2 million in total sales – the highest annual total ever achieved for watches at the global auction house. During what has emerged as a remarkable year for investment in fine timepieces, every watch sale hosted at Christie's salerooms in Dubai, Hong Kong, Geneva, and New York achieved sell-through rates above 90% by value. The top watch of the year was a unique Patek Philippe gold chronograph Reference 1527 (above) manufactured in 1943 that sold for a record-breaking $5.7 million at Christie's Geneva in May. The top 8 prices of the year were all attributable to Pateks, and no other auction house in the world achieved as many record prices for important timepieces during 2010.


Tags: auctions, Christies, Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, New York, Patek Philippe, Rolex, watches, world record

Rarest Macallan Bottle Fetches Record $460,000 At Sotheby's Auction

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions



A bottle of Macallan 64-year-old scotch, housed within a Lalique crystal decanter, far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $100,000-with a winning bid of $460,000-at Sotheby's in New York, this week.

With all proceeds of the sale going to benefit charity: water, the one-of-a-kind bottle, made by Lalique using the cire perdue ("lost wax") method, did a multi-city charity tour before the final event in New York. Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water, spoke before the auction of the idealism behind his organization and the impact that the evening's sale would have on helping to bring clean water to communities in developing countries. He then handed the microphone off to Sotheby's Head of Wine in the US and Asia, Jamie Ritchie, to perform the auctioneer duties.

A gentleman in the crowd eagerly placed the opening bid, sparking a cascading ping-pong of responses from around the room. Bidding quickly passed the $300,000 mark, with phone bidders setting the tone, outpacing most on-hand. Ritchie kept the mood light, cracking an "Only $5?!" joke when a Sotheby's rep asked if he would accept an increase of $5,000 from a potential buyer on the phone. Reminding everyone that the evening's sale would support a good cause, Ritchie broke the $400,000 barrier to a delighted response of the crowd. With everyone's mind wondering if the lot would reach the half-million mark, bidding slowed around $450,000 before finally settling on $460,000. Giving everyone one last chance, Ritchie brought the gavel down to mark the record sale, which went to an anonymous US bidder.


Tags: auctions, charity water, lalique, macallan, new york city, scotch, sothebys, whisky

FAO Schwartz Offers Once-in-A-Lifetime Experiences at Auction

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Luxury Shopping

FAO Schwartz has launched
FAO Schwarz, the renowned luxury toy store which is known for providing one-of-kind shopping experiences, is building upon that legacy by launching the "Experiences of a Lifetime" online auction.

Four "Experiences of a Lifetime," auction items will be offered on FAO.com with 100% of the proceeds donated to Toys for Tots. The auction items are sure to delight die-hard enthusiasts of Disney, Nickelodeon, Smurf and FAO Schwarz alike as they are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that bring the brands they love to life. Bids can be placed now through December 1. Each of the packages would make a unique holiday gift.

The one-of-a-kind prize packages include:

Disney On Ice Party Package Extravaganza!
Offering the ultimate party for Disney fans, the winner of this auction package will have the opportunity to invite up to 25 children and 25 adults to a Disney On Ice show in any city where the tour is scheduled to stop! The winning child and family will be publicly acknowledged at the beginning of the show as special guests, and each child who attends will receive a Disney costume to wear during the show that they can take home as a keepsake along with a special Disney On Ice gift bag. The one and a half hour party package extravaganza includes catering and photo opportunities with a star from Disney On Ice.

Gallery: FAO Schwarz's "Experiences of a Lifetime" auction

Paint the town Blue at The Smurf's PremierDisney on Ice ExtravaganzaThe Quintessential New York TourNickelodeon Mega Music Fest 2011


Tags: auctions, Disney, FAO Schwarz, holiday shopping, Nickelodeon, Toys for Tots

Continue reading “FAO Schwartz Offers Once-in-A-Lifetime Experiences at Auction”

Pussy Galore's Helicopter Joins Bond's DB5 in London

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Auctions


Back in June we reported on the historic offering of the iconic 1964 Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery as James Bond in Goldfinger during RM Auctions' upcoming Automobiles of London sale on Oct. 27. Now another eye-catching Goldfinger vehicle has just joined the lineup: famed Bond Girl Pussy Galore's 1960 Hiller UH -12 E4 helicopter (above). Expected to fetch up to $650,000, the historic aircraft has been completely restored to the highest standards and is in full flying condition. Also up for sale is the 1998 Jaguar XKR driven in the famous ice hotel chase scene by the villain Zao in 2002's Die Another Day. The car, fitted out with some wicked "weapons systems", is currently the property of the Jaguar Heritage Trust and is estimated at up to $55,000.


Tags: 007, Aston Martin, Aston Martin DB5, auctions, celebrity cars, helicopter, Jaguar, James Bond, London, movie cars, movies, RM Auctions, Sean Connery, UK

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