Sotheby’s to Offer Important Watches on April 28, 2009 Sotheby’s spring sale of Important Watches will take place on April 28, 2009, and will offer a selection of vintage and modern timepieces by the market’s finest makers.
Ref. 1463 was Patek Philippe’s first water-resistant chronograph wristwatch, and it was produced in fewer than 750 examples. The present example is in especially nice condition with only light wear and no signs of polishing to the case.
Another highlight is a Rare Stainless Steel Rolex Chronograph Wristwatch with Registers, Tachometer and Telemeter, circa 1940, Ref. 4048 ‘Monobloc’ (est.$25/35,000). In the 1940s, some chronographs were still made with square pushers, while others, such as Ref. 4048, utilized the more modern round chronograph pushers. The round buttons would go on to become the signature of water-proof chronographs.
Also made by Rolex is a Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch with Black Dial and Registers, circa 1956 Ref. 6234 Oyster Chronograph ‘Pre-Daytona’ (est. $40/60,000).Typically, Pre-Daytona models have silvered dials with black printing. The present example is especially unusual, featuring the very attractive combination of black dial with gilt printing. The dial design, with an Arabic 12 o'clock marker, dagger indexes and no tachometer scale, lends this watch an open, elegant look. The rarity of the dial on this already desirable model makes this example especially collectible in today's market.
The sale will also include an Audemars Piguet Massive and Limited Edition Alacrite and Titanium Tourbillon Wristwatch with Power Reserve made in 2004, Ref. CW1 Royal Oak Concept (est. $200/300,000). Made in only 150 total examples, this watch was available for three years from 2002 until 2004 and is made of alacrite, an incredibly hard and durable cobalt and chrome alloy with more than twice the strength of steel.
Also among the modern highlights will be a Breguet Fine Platinum Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Wristwatch with Retrograde Date, circa 2003, Ref. 3757 (est. $60/80,000). Tourbillon wristwatches by Breguet are highly desirable in today’s market as collectors recognize the care, craftsmanship and history that the firm puts into its complicated pieces. The combination of these two elite complications is very rare and sought after in today’s market, and the retrograde date display is a very unusual feature.
