rue watch connoisseurs treasure not only the looks of a watch but are also interested in the inner life of a chronograph. The Astrolabe Galileo Galilei from Ulysse Nardin even earned an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for its complexity with numerous astronomical data. At the Watches sale on 13 November, further stars from renowned companies will be offered in addition to this extraordinary watch: Rolex is going to be represented with the models GMT-Master, Daytona, and Datejust, while the model from Audemars Piguet selected for the sale is a Royal Oak.

Ulysse Nardin launched the highly complex wristwatch Astrolabe Galileo Galilei in 1985, which marked the beginning of the extraordinary partnership between then-proprietor Rolf W. Schnyder and the visionary watchmaker Professor Ludwig Oechslin (estimate: €16,000–20,000). The dial shows, for instance, the positions of the sun, moon, and stars at any point in time as seen from the Earth. In 1989 the watch was entered in the Guinness Book of Records for the extraordinarily large number of complications in a single mechanical movement. With its complex construction and the way the astronomical movements are depicted it constitutes a milestone in the art of watchmaking.

The Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet is an iconic luxury watch that was created in 1972 by the famous designer Gérald Genta. Its striking design revolutionized the watch industry with a bold, sporty-elegant look. A particularly characteristic feature is the octagonal bezel with visible screws, which was inspired by a diving helmet. At the sale, the Royal Oak model to be offered will be the Quantième Perpétuel Automatique (ref. no. 25654BA.0.944BA.01) in 18-carat yellow gold (estimate: €60,000–80,000). The 25654, launched in 1987, continues the aesthetics of its predecessor, with improved watertightness thanks to a revised case construction.

From the collection of an eminent Cologne-based watch connoisseur is the service chronograph 13ZN from Longines, which was produced in a very small edition and issued only to admirals and high-ranking officers of the Italian navy. Therefore it was not available for purchase. The 13ZN calibre from Longines is considered one of the most significant and technically outstanding movements in the history of watchmaking. Developed by Longines in 1936, it constituted a milestone in the chronograph segment. What was especially remarkable about the calibre was that it had not only a flyback mechanism but was also able to measure time with precision. Today watches with the 13ZN movement are extremely sought-after among collectors and consistently achieve high prices at auctions.

Rolex designed the GMT-Master in 1954 for Pan American Airways to meet the demands of pilots on transatlantic flights. The additional 24-hour hand function allows wearers to read two different time zones simultaneously. This is still a useful feature for today’s travellers who move between different time zones.

The Daytona on offer (ref. no. 116589) is a particularly exclusive version of the popular and famous Rolex model (estimate: €22,000–28,000). This watch has several characteristic features that make it an extraordinary object of desire. Made of white gold with diamond trimming and a dial made of mother-of- pearl, it has an elegant and at the same time glamorous look. The Daytona is equipped with an automatic movement calibre 4130 that is known for its reliability and precision.

The Daytona 116500LN is part of the Oyster Perpetual collection from Rolex and constitutes a significant step in the evolution of the Daytona series. Introduced in 2016, it showed some crucial improvements and design changes while still keeping the Daytona’s DNA. The LN stands for “lunette noir” (black bevel). This refers to the mono-block cerachrome bevel. With its distinct design, its state-of-the-art movement, and the close link with the world of motorsport, it is both a timeless classic and a popular collector’s item.

Further popular and timeless classic watches by renowned manufacturers complete the high-quality offerings in this segment.