The Masterworks of Time: Adolf Lange, The Golden Era of Glashütte auction organized by Sotheby’s featured an exclusive selection of 143 pieces from the best watch brands chosen for their condition, rarity and quality. Total fresh sale included: 4 615 029 $ USD, selling more than 90% of the lots on display.
BEST RESULTS
Lot 38 : Frères Rochat & Rémond, Lamy, Mercier & Co., Genève, miniature gold, enamel and diamond-set hour striking musical double singing bird cage with timepiece, sold for 1 013 878 $ USD.
Lot 22 : A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte, 18k pink gold hunting cased perpetual calendar minute repeating grande and petite sonnerie keyless lever clock watch with moon phases, double chronograph and register, sold for 439 180 $ USD.
BEST PERFORMANCES
Lot 100 : Albert G. Piguet, Le Sentier, open-faced keyless watch based on the principles of resonance with double lever escapement and two guillaume balances, in associated gold case with exhibition back movement 1933, n° 220, or 3 471% variation between the low estimate and the final result (250 960 $ USD).
Lot 78 : Breguet et Fils, silver and gold double dialled watch with single handed time dial and separate inking chronograph dial with ten-minute register, n° 4129, or 483% variation between the low estimate and the final result (175 672 $ USD).
Lot 71 : Joseph Bockh, Linz, astronomical verge watch in later interesting and unusual silver and gold celestial sphere-form case movement circa 1720, case late 19th century, or 442% variation between the low estimate and the final result (95 498 $ USD).
BREAKDOWN BY BRANDS
A. Lange & Sohne, Glaschutte
On the first step of the podium, with a watch having exceeded 400 000 $ USD, average per lot 44 450 $ USD. A result based on the second highest bid of the sale with lot 22.
Frères Rochat
On the second step of the podium, with a watch above 1 million $ USD, single lot average 1 013 878 $ USD. A result based on the highest bid of the sale with lot 38.
Breguet et Fils
On the third step of the podium, with a watch passing the 100 000 $ USD mark, average per lot 64 309 $ USD.
These three brands represent total proceeds of 2 382 364 $ USD, or more than 50% of total sales.
AVERAGE PRICE PER LOT
Taking into account the number of lots, 391 in total, including 86 unsold lots, the average price of a lot was 52 442 $ USD.
CONCLUSION
This sale demonstrated once again the dynamism of the market in the auctions, we can note the presence in the top trio of the following brands : A. Lange & Sohne, Glaschutte and Frères Rochat as well as Breguet et Fils.
