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Geneva – Antiquorum’s last Geneva spring sale “Collecting Modern & Vintage Timepieces”, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Saturday 8 & Sunday May 9th, achieved excellent results totalling CHF 6'327’428, with 84% of the 500 lots being sold.

The auction enjoyed strong in-room presence as well as lively telephone and Internet bidding, with international participation including bidders from France, Germany, Switzerland, USA and the United Kingdom. Asian bidders from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China competed aggressively to acquire some of the most important pocket watches and vintage timepieces.

The top lot of the sale was the Grande & Petite Sonnerie Tourbillon Clockwatch (lot 500) attributed to Victorin Piguet, with the tourbillon carriage by Albert Pellaton-Favre, which sold to a collector from Taiwan for an impressive CHF 366’000 after fierce telephone bidding against a European bidder.

Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces achieved very good results, including the Grande Complication Gyrotourbillon No. 1/1, pièce unique (lot 174), which reached a notable CHF 342'000.

Furthermore, the Private Collection of over 60 Jaeger-LeCoultre clocks attracted the attention of collectors worldwide with several pieces obtaining remarkable results. Certain fine examples in the pure Art Deco style sold for up to four times the lower estimate such as the Jaeger “Heures Sautantes” (lot 236) and the “Duo Face” (lot 239), double face crystal table clock, both attained CHF 9’600. The unusual and rare Jaeger “Mappemonde”, illuminated world globe table clock (lot 214) sold for an impressive CHF 11’400, while the glass and chrome Jaeger-LeCoultre pendulette baguette, retailed by Hermès (lot 189) was acquired by a collector over the phone after a very animated bidding session.

“We are very pleased to see that the collection of Jaeger-LeCoultre clocks drew great international interest, especially on the part of American, Asian and European collectors. In particular, lot 189, the Art Deco Jaeger-LeCoultre Pendulette Baguette with an 8-day going movement and retailed by Hermès, reached an impressive 12’000 CHF more than four times its lower estimate”, said Etienne Leménager, Director and Watch Expert at Antiquorum.

Offered at auction for the very first time by its original owner, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5101P, “10 Day Tourbillon” (lot 167) sold for CHF 246’000. Another highly collectible Patek Philippe wristwatch, the Ref. 5004 in yellow gold (lot 172) obtained CHF 210’000, while the Ref. 3448, retailed by Cartier (lot 490) was acquired for CHF 204’000.

Collectors were very interested by lot 489, the Vacheron & Constantin « The Mermaid », a yellow and white gold wristwatch with polychrome cloisonné enamel dial, sold for CHF 100’800. Vacheron & Constantin made only a few watches with cloisonné enamel dials and the mermaid motif is rare.

Among the selection of fine Rolex wristwatches offered at auction, the Yellow Gold Ref. 6263 First Series Rolex, “Oyster, Cosmograph” (lot 466), bearing a rare non C.O.S.C. dial, achieved CHF 84'000.

Modern complicated timepieces continue to achieve very good results such as the extremely fine and unusual cushion-shaped Ellicott “Springfield Tourbillon ECW1”, No. 03/18, Ref. 1700 (lot 111), acquired for CHF 168’000; the Gérald Genta White Gold Minute-Repeating Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Squelette No. 2, Ref. G 4010.4 (lot 91), sold for CHF 121'000 and the Harry Winston & Speake-Marin "Project Z3 Sport Tourbillon 110 Hours", No. 20/80, Ref. 400-MAT44W (lot 148), developed with P. Speake-Marin, reached CHF 81'600.

“We are very satisfied by the overall excellent result of CHF 13’349’428 achieved for Antiquorum two spring auctions, which indicate that the market for collectible timepieces continues to be strong in 2010”, said William Rohr, COO & Managing Director.

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