The Important Watches auction organized by Christie’s featured an exclusive selection of 177 watches from the best watch brands chosen according to their condition, rarity and quality. Total sale including costs : 8 122 875 $ USD, selling nearly 70% of the lots presented.
BEST RESULTS
Lot 88 : Patek Philippe ref. 1463R, extremely fine and possibly unique 18k pink gold chronograph wristwatch, sold for 711 000 $ USD.
Lot 34 : Hublot ref. 405.OX.9108.LR.9904, Big Bang model, 18k ping gold tourbillon baguette-cut diamond-set wristwatch with power reserve, sold for 627 000 $ USD.
BEST PERFORMANCES
Lot 161 : Patek Philippe ref. 3589/1, Elipse model, 18k white gold, automatic, cushion-shaped wristwatch with pale green dial, bracelet, made for colonnel Muammar Gaddafi, or 650% variation between the low estimate and the final result (187 500 $ USD).
Lot 87 : Patek Philippe ref. 9508, 18k gold and enamel lighter made for the sultanate of Oman, or 250% variation between the low estimate and the final result (35 000 $ USD).
Lot 101 : Patek Philippe ref. 3919/5, Calatrava model, 18k yellow gold wristwatch with bracelet made for Silvio Berlusconi, or 233% variation between the low estimate and the final result (20 000 $ USD).
BREAKDOWN BY BRANDS
Rolex
On the first step of the podium, with a watch having surpassed the 450 000 $ USD mark, average per lot 65 965 $ USD.
Patek Philippe
On the second step of the podium, with a watch above 700 000 $ USD, average per lot 83 855 $ USD. A result based on the highest bid of the sale with lot 88.
Hublot
On the third step of the podium, with a watch having exceeded the 600 000 $ USD mark, average per lot 269 833 $ USD.
These three brands represent a total revenue of 5 280 625 $ USD, or 65% of the total sale.
AVERAGE PRICE PER LOT
Based on the number of lots, 177 in total, including 54 unsold lots, the average price of a lot was 66 040 $ USD.
CONCLUSION
From this sale, we can draw a lesson that is the dominance of the Rolex brand in early 2019. Rolex continues to be the brand that is often at the top of the podium at international auction houses since the 2018 season. But it is also worth noting the performance of all these watches with a provenance during this sale, whatever the brand, each of them is found on the three steps of the podium for the best performance.
