Christie's, May 12 in Geneve. Monster sale

At the auction on May 12 in Geneve there are so many absolutely rare Patek Philippe and A. Lange & Söhne timepieces up for sale, that I almost don't know where to start at. I gone give it a try by starting with the rare A. Lange & Söhne watches and then coming to the breathtaking Patek Philippe references.

A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon pour le Mérite is in itself already a really rare watch, but this one is the definition of rarity. It is the only one cased in white gold in combination with a black dial! A. Lange & Söhne produced 18 white gold with blue dial, 15 red gold with black dial and 116 in yellow gold. So isn't this beautiful Tourbillon pour le Mérite a holy grail? Lot N° 392. Estimated 130 000€ - 210 000€

A. Lange & Söhne introduced their Lange 1 watch in 1994 of the new area and this very special and extremely rare "Lange 1 steel" was made in 1998 and sold through Rüschenbeck in Germany. And yes, it is cased in stainless steel! In 20 years there were not even a handful of this steel watches offered to public! This watch is only the fourth offered at an auction! Lot N° 386. Estimated 67 000€ - 120 000€

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1A, which was limited to 100 pieces and this is number 100/100. This one was made in 1998 and comes with it beautifully guilloché yellow gold dial cased in yellow gold. Lot N° 387. Estimated 34 000€ - 50 000€

A. Lange & Söhne time zone cased in platinum. For me personally the time zone is a beautifully designed watch. With all the information given on the dial, the watch is still very discreet and doesn't look like being overloaded. This one is no limited version or special edition but an overall good looking watch. Lot N° 385. Estimated 21 000€ - 29 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 130 yellow gold with Breguet numerals made in 1943. Lot N° 313. Estimated 34 000€ - 50 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 130 made in 1942. This one is very special because the dial has never seen cosmectic enhancement and the case is still in perfect condition with very sharp edges. Lot N° 185. Estimated 84 000€ - 120 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 198'095 made in 1927. This one is an very important and probably unique platinum minute repeater made for Henry Graves Jr.! The case is beautifully cushion-shaped and the dial does have Breguet numerals. The coat of arms in engraved on the back. Lot N° 101. Estimated 1 000 000€ - 1 500 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 565 made in 1945 cased in stainless steel. This one comes with a very special dial layout and it is known that only four other examples of ref. 565 are fitted with this layout and were offered to public! Lot N° 180. Estimated 25 000€ - 42 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 565 made in 1954. Cased in stainless steel and is believed to be the only example of a last series 565 in stainless steel retailed by Freccero. Lot N° 49. Estimated 13 000€ - 21 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 570 made in 1950. This combination with stainless steel case and dial layout is the only one of three examples known to date! Lot N° 50. Estimated 25 000€ - 42 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 made in 1958. This very special reference 1463 comes with a very nice dial never seen before and is signed with the prestigious Hausmann signature! Lot N° 438. Estimated 67 000€ - 100 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 made in 1952. It is not enough that this super rare reference 1463 is cased in rose gold, no, it does have as well a two-tone dial and comes in an incredible perfect condition! Lot N° 58. Estimated 130 000€ - 210 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 made in 1942. This super rare stainless steel reference was sold to Mr. Caran d'Ache which is confirmed by letter of Patek Philippe dated from June 15th 1995! Lot N° 181. Estimated 150 000€ - 250 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 made in 1969. This beautiful 3rd series references 1463 comes with the Tiffany & Co. signature and a case which shows no signs of any cosmetic intervention! Lot N° 281. Estimated 130 000€ - 210 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 made in 1942. This is an exceptional and highly important reference 1518 which comes with the "CALENDRIER PERPÉTUEL" mark on the dial above the day and month window! Lot N° 376. Estimated 410 000€ - 650 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 1579 made in 1952. This "spider lugs" example comes in the rare rose gold case and in an overall very good condition. Lot N° 322. Estimated 67 000€ - 100 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2497 made in 1953. This rare example of an 2497 was aquired by the Swiss retailer Chronometrie Beyer which can be recognized by looking at the german calendar indications. Lot N° 54. Estimated 84 000€ - 120 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 made in 1963. This 3rd series example of reference 2499 comes in perfect condition and is cased in yellow gold. Lot N° 326. Estimated 170 000€ - 250 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 made in 1976. This yellow gold 3rd series ref. 2499 comes in an overall good condition. Lot N° 100. Estimated 150 000€ - 250 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 made in 1955. This is only the second example of ref. 2526 known with pink dial and luminous numerals which makes this watch extremely rare. Lot N° 96. Estimated 42 000€ - 58 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 made in 1954. One of two known examples of reference 2526 combining enamel dial with arabic hour markers12, 3, 9 and baton numerals! This one is in pink gold the other one in yellow gold. Lot N° 93. Estimated 34 000€ - 50 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 made in 1955. This beautiful 2526 comes with a "Ponti Gennari" bracelet. Lot N° 51. Estimated 17 000€ - 25 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 2597 made in 1958. This rare "travel time" 2597 of the first version comes in very good condition. Lot N° 38. Estimated 42 000€ - 58 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 3448/15 made in 1977. This extremely rare reference 3448 with variation "/15" which stands for the addictional soldered on the case bracelet is one of only nine known examples! The more it is the only one of three examples with the same "crisscross" bracelet! Lot N° 190. Estimated 67 000€ - 120 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 made in 1972. This is a very beautiful early generation reference 3448 which comes with the pearly minute markers and smaller numerals for the date indication. The early examples are rarer than their later sister. Lot N° 62. Estimated 67 000€ - 120 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 3450/4 made in 1983. This very special reference 3450/4 is the only one with this particular bracelet texture and this exact reference number! There are only four examples known with integrated bracelet. Lot N° 439. Estimated 120 000€ - 210 000€

Patek Philippe Ref. 3450 "Prototype" made in 1981. This is an extremely rare reference 3450 without the opening of the leap year. The more, the case is a way different to the "normal" 3450, this one is thinner! A prototype watch specially engineered and designed by Patek Philippe. Lot N° 440. Estimated 210 000€ - 290 000€

And well, what about the prices? They are going to fly high! I will publish the results right after the auction.

Kind regards.
Christian