The Important Watches auction organized by Sotheby’s featured an exclusive selection of 384 watches from the best watch brands chosen according to their condition, rarity and quality. Total sale including costs : 17 376 245 $ USD, selling more than 75% of the lots presented.
BEST RESULTS
Lot 2289 : Patek Philippe ref. 2499, first series a highly important yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, sold for 1 537 347 $ USD.
Lot 2352 : Patek Philippe ref. 5002P-001, Skymoon Tourbillon model, platinum double dial wristwatch with twelve complication including tourbillon, perpetual calendar, retrograde date, sky chart, moon phases, orbit display, sidereal time and minute repeating on cathedral gongs, sold for 1 104 546 $ USD.
BEST PERFORMANCES
Lot 2230 : Japanese, striking hanging bell-clock, or 1 210% variation between the low estimate and the final result (104 658 $ USD).
Lot 2271 : Patek Philippe ref. 3700/11, Nautilus model, stainless steel bracelet watch with date, retailed by Tiffany & Co., or 420% variation between the low estimate and the final result (322 025 $ USD).
Lot 2360 : Jaeger-Lecoultre ref. 141.2.97, Master Control Alarm model, pink gold wristwatch with alarm and date, or 346% variation between the low estimate and the final result (8 051 $ USD).
BREAKDOWN BY BRANDS
Patek Philippe
On the first step of the podium, with two watches exceeding 1 million $, average per lot 92 778 $ USD. A result based on the highest bid of the sale with lot 2289.
Cartier
On the second step of the podium, with a watch above 1 million $, average per lot 107 121 $ USD.
Richard Mille
On the third step of the podium, with a watch having exceeded the 400 000 $ USD mark, average per lot 195 228 $ USD.
These three brands represent a total revenue of 11 508 689 $ USD, or more than 65% of the total sale.
AVERAGE PRICE PER LOT
Based on the number of lots, 384 in total, including 90 unsold lots, the average price of a lot was 59 103 $ USD.
CONCLUSION
Sotheby’s for the first time of the year breaks the dominance of Rolex with Patek Philippe largely ahead of this sale thanks to a rare model sold during this session, reference 2499 of the first series, which is so far the highest result of this year at auction. This domination of Patek Philippe is overwhelming since it represents more than half of the sale in value. An interesting sign for the match Patek Philippe vs. Rolex looming for the year 2019.
