At the recent Important Watches Autumn Sale by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the final day’s round of auction concluded with a staggering total of HK$124.3 million (US$15.9 million) having changed hands.

Top on the list for eyebrow-raising, jaw-dropping and smile-teasing conclusions was a Patek Philippe Platinum and Diamond-set Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch Ref. 5073P auctioned off for HK$5.8 million (US$740,000). This was topped by another Patek Philippe Pink Gold Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Wristwatch with Retrograde Date and Moon-Phases Ref. 5216R which set the World Auction Record for a Patek Philippe Ref. 5216 at HK$5.2 million (US$666,667).

“We are very pleased with our sale results, which came in squarely within our pre-sale expectations. The market demonstrated the desire for the highest quality timepieces and we achieved many new auction benchmarks, such as the Patek Philippe Ref. 5216R and Ref. 5213G, which set world auction records for their specific references. We also look forward to our Geneva sale in November where we will bring to the market once again, 15 years after its previous record breaking sale, the iconic Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication as the prestigious watch manufacturer celebrates its 175th anniversary this year.”

Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Watches, Tim Bourne.

Auction Details from Sotheby

The autumn series of watch auctions at Sotheby’s worldwide presents both the history and evolution of timekeeping, manifesting the ingenuity and technical virtuosity of various world-renowned watch brands. Commencing in Hong Kong this October with modern timepieces such as Greubel Forsey’s ground breaking inclined tourbillons and Patek Philippe minute repeating wristwatches, the sales continue in Geneva this November with the ‘holy grail’ of vintage watches – the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication.

Patek Philippe Platinum and Diamond-set Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch Ref. 5073P

Sold for HK$5.8 million (US$740,000) – A super impressive, rare and important platinum and diamond-set automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch with cathedral gongs, moon-phases and leap year indication ref 5073p circa 2011

Patek Philippe Pink Gold Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Wristwatch with Retrograde Date and Moon-Phases Ref. 5216R

Sold for HK$5.4 million (US$666,667) – An extremely important and rare pink gold minute repeating perpetual calendar tourbillon wristwatch with retrograde date and moon-phases ref 5216r circa 2014

Hamyar

In-House Editor

To say Hamyar has traveled would be something of an understatement. His passion for travelling has taken him from Tanzania to Dubai and an enviable number of places between, and the memories he captures always make for interesting reading. As well as travel, other subjects which fall into his expert remit include culture, design, fashion and cars - in other words, a born globetrotting who is destined for great things if his aspirations so far are anything to go by.