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Unique & Historically Important Watches Open Christie’s Fall Season

September 2006


Building upon the momentum of a record first half of 2006, Christie’s international watch department is pleased to announce the opening sale of the fall season to take place in New York on October 12. The season commences with a selection of rare watches, including two historically important pieces from Patek Philippe, each appearing for the first time on the market. A special addition to the fall sale lineup is a unique IWC platinum chronograph wristwatch being sold to benefit the Vol de Nuit/Vuelo Nocturno, a charitable organization. Also of note is a single-owner collection of 70 lots ranging from 18th century pocket watches to modern wristwatches.

A Record First Half at Christie’s
First half sales figures for Christie’s international watch department totaled a record-breaking $27,108,000. Leading the first half was the May 2006 Geneva watch sale – a sale that totaled a staggering $13,650,303 – the highest sale result ever realized by Christie’s in this sale category. The fall season, highlighted throughout by rare and fresh-to-the-market pieces, positions Christie’s to continue its role as market leader.

Unique & Unparalleled Timepieces Lead New York Highlights
Leading the sale is an extremely rare, unique Patek Philippe reference 1491 chronograph (estimate: $200,000-400,000), a watch that in all aspects is unparalleled. Seen here for the first time on the market, this wristwatch stands alone as the only example of the complicated
chronograph mechanism having been adapted to the case of this decorative and whimsical reference. In addition to the combination of form and function, the uniqueness of this piece also lies in the layout of the dial which features a specific configuration with an oversized 30 minute register, making this timepiece of great interest and historical significance.

Also of historical importance is the Patek Philippe reference 2499 from the Estate of H. Lee Turner, an exceptionally rare example of Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch (estimate: $250,000-300,000). This wristwatch has an extremely uncommon feature: a transitional dial with applied Arabic numerals. The rarity of this wristwatch’s dial and the elegant fluidity of the piece’s design not only attest to the innovations of Patek Philippe, but also to the connoisseurship of its original owner, H. Lee Turner, a very successful lawyer and founder of the paralegal movement. This exquisite timepiece, with its freshness to the market, unbroken provenance and original box and papers, provides collectors with a historical and virtually unique example of Patek Philippe’s ground-breaking complicated wristwatch production.

A Unique Wristwatch to Benefit Charity
Christie’s and IWC are proud to offer the single, unique “Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry” platinum chronograph wristwatch, being sold to benefit the Vol de Nuit/Vuelo Nocturno. Started by the grand-nephew of the famous author and pilot Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Frederic d’Agay, the “Night Fight” campaign aims to support the children of Argentina, victims of the economic crisis, with both material and humanitarian aid.

IWC’s “Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry,” released in 2006, commemorates the 75th anniversary year of the publishing of Vol de Nuit in 1931, and celebrates the tradition of the firm’s production of professional aviator’s wristwatches. Of the 1,931 limited edition pieces, only one piece – the present lot – was made in platinum (1,630 were made in stainless steel, 250 in pink gold, 50 in white gold). This unique wristwatch is accompanied by two very rare and exciting original documents of Antoine de Saint Exupéry, an original edition of Vol de Nuit (Night Flight) of 1935 with a dedication by Saint Exupéry and a signed manuscript by the author entitled Toi Ma Libertée, circa 1942.
Auction: Important Pocket Watches & Wristwatches,Including the Important Collection of a Distinguished Gentleman - October 12
Viewing: Christie’s Galleries at 20 Rockefeller Plaza - October 6-11

About Christie’s International Watch Department
In 2005, Christie’s international watch department realized a total of over $51 million, with worldwide market share of 75% against the firm’s main competitor. Christie’s first watch auction was held on 14 June 1960 at King Street and since then, Christie’s international watch department has gone from strength to strength with record sales and world record auction prices including the most expensive watch ever sold at Christie’s, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Jr. “Grande Complication” which sold for $1.9 million /¤1.6 million in November 2005. Co-headed by international directors Aurel Bacs and Tim Bourne, Christie’s holds over 12 auctions annually in Geneva, New York, Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Hong Kong and now Dubai.


Source : Christie’s

www.christies.com