ntiquorum, the renowned Swiss auction house established in Geneva in 1974, is proud to unveil a highly anticipated selection of 531 lots to be auctioned on Sunday May 14th and Monday May 15th at the Beau-Rivage Genève hotel. The upcoming auction is expected to thrill watch collectors from around the world with an exceptional array of the rarest modern and vintage timepieces.

According to Romain Réa, Antiquorum’s Chief Executive Officer, the upcoming auction is highly anticipated due to the quality of the lots that the Antiquorum team of experts has gathered and due to the evolving market trends. Indeed the popularity of some modern watch references has been on the rise for the last four years, and the appetite of collectors has never been higher. Moreover, there is likely to be a surge of interest in well-preserved antique lots, making this auction one of the most exciting events of the year.

Antiquorum’s Managing Director and Watch expert, Julien Schaerer, was thrilled to work on the catalogue and has stated that the selection is representative of Antiquorum’s know-how in collecting rare and fine antique objects to vintage and modern collectible timepieces.

The selection is split into three sessions and will be auctioned over two days; the selection includes numerous milestones of the watchmaking history presenting technical evolutions along with outstanding know-how.

In summary, the 531 lots are not only remarkable for their historical value but also for their attractiveness. Antiquorum’s selection would be sufficient to build a watchmaking history exhibition, bringing together historical value and attractiveness with each of the 531 lots. Watch collectors and enthusiasts will not want to miss this incredible opportunity to acquire some of the rarest timepieces in the world.

LOT 23 is the coveted Jeager Le Coultre Deep Sea watch, reference E857, estimated to be worth between CHF 20,000-30,000. This specific watch has been consigned to the auction by its original owner and is considered by experts to be one of the most fascinating Swiss sports watch references to collect. Its rarity only adds to its allure; the watch was only produced for three years, from 1959 to 1962, and in limited batches.

LOT 63 is a Daniel Roth timepiece, a brand that has been making headlines in the watch industry as one of the burning watchmaking topics of the season. A lot to expect in the future from the brand’s under the skilled hands of La Fabrique du Temps a renowned watchmaking facility that has been exclusively producing watches for Louis Vuitton until recently.

LOT 185 is set to be auctioned and boasts a unique and exceedingly rare version of Patek Philippe’s Ref. 570 - a Calatrava model known for its classic and timeless design. The Ref. 570 was launched in 1938 and is one of the most coveted references in the brand’s collection, having been produced until the early 1960s. This particular watch, believed to have been made in 1941 and recently discovered in Germany, features a black dial, confirmed by the extract from the archives, a rare configuration that was only produced in small numbers.

LOT 200 is the Patek Philippe 1463, an extraordinary waterproof chronograph in pink gold which is considered one of the nicest examples they have ever offered. The original owner preferred a pink gold dial, as opposed to the original silver dial, so he set upon a long quest to find an original pink gold dial. He also wanted a pink gold bracelet which he was lucky enough to find – a period Gay Freres riveted bracelet, to complement the already breath-taking timepiece. Scholars believe that only 145 models were ever made in pink gold making this piece a true collectors delight.

LOT 257 is a very fine and historically important 18K multicoloured gold, keyless pocket watch from Amiet, France. It was specially made for Pope Leo XIII in 1887 and features the Besançon coat of arms surmounted by the Papal mitre and Saint Peter’s keys, all in relief against a matted ground. The bezels are in green gold with laurel leaf garlands in relief, and the gold hinged cuvette is engraved with a dedication. It comes with its stunning original box with a dedication on the inner dome and silver armorials of the town and of Franche-Comté.

LOT 281 is a jewel of watchmaking mechanics. The 18k pink gold pocket watch signed Lattes Frères Genève dates from circa 1880 and combines two independent movements with two independent balances. The timepiece indicates on the left in Roman numerals the sidereal time (the time indicated by the movement of the planets and the observation of the stars) and on the right in Turkish numerals the time of the observatory, the place of reference. The piece is in near-perfect condition.

Among the ten clocks that will be featured is LOT 284, a Franco Villacroce Roma 1755 Table Clock in the form of a book, another unique piece in this collection as object shaped clocks are extremely rare. This extraordinary piece is put forward by the same seller as Lot 257, testament to his expertise.

LOT 286 is a small and exquisite pendant watch that once belonged to the King of Naples. The watch features a concealed dial and a single-hand design, and is made of 20K gold and agate. The case consists of two parts made of agate and set in gold hinged bezels. These are painted with white enamel in a ’ronde bosse’ style, with the top part adorned with pink and black flowers, and the lower part decorated with foliage and floral patterns. The watch has a short pendant and loose ring, and the enamel dial is set on a gold plate. The dial features radial Roman chapters on a white enamel ring, with a centre that has translucent red enamel over a flinqué ground. The single hand is made of blued-steel and has an ’arrowhead’ design with a serpentine tail. Overall, this is a fine and rare timepiece that is sure to be of interest to collectors.

LOT 338 is an exceptional and highly sought-after 18K gold pocket watch from Ilbery London, Switzerland, beautifully crafted with painted enamel and pearl accents, and boasting a rare duplex escapement. This stunning timepiece is attributed to the renowned enamel artist Jean-Louis Richter, whose works are highly prized by collectors.

One of the most exceptional shape timepieces in this auction is LOT 457, an outstanding double- bladed pocket-knife with a watch and music. This knife was made for the Chinese market circa 1805- 1815 and is crafted from 18K yellow gold, enamel, and pearls and features a white enamel dial with suspended “Breguet” numerals. The tapered mount is decorated with fine cut engravings and sky blue champlevé enamel with floral motifs and urns set with half-pearls. The back panel boasts a polychrome enamel plaque on a pink background with fruit and birds. The knife’s two folding blades are made of steel and gold, and the watch is a key-winding fantasy watch.

LOT 464 is home to a highly coveted Rolex watch that is set to be auctioned, causing anticipation among collectors worldwide. The Rolex Daytona JPS, also known as the Paul Newman John Player Special, is a manual wind 18k yellow gold chronograph wristwatch manufactured in approximately 1968.