Bonhams June 2 auction, Hong Kong -----> complete Patek Philippe 3417

After the team at Bonhams had an amazing Patek Philippe 3417 signed Beyer in their last sale on December 8 in New York, which went a bit crazy with roughly over 100 000€ sold, they managed to get another amazing example of the much sought after PPC 3417 in their sale on this June 2nd in Hong Kong.

For me, the 3417 is one of the most interesting timepieces made by Patek Philippe. A tool watch by Patek, isn't that amazing? The present example in the sale got the second series movement beating in its case, the 27AM400, which followed the first series movement 12"'400. The most amazing fact about this example is, that it is all complete. With the original box, outer packaging, certificat d'origine with its enveloppe and hang tag. I can't remember to have ever seen a more complete example than this one. The more, it never had been offered before in public. It comes straight from the family of the original owner, who received it as a graduation gift and from that time on always kept this 3417 by his side and did take care of it. I really felt in love with this example when I first saw it and I can imagine that it will reach a good price at the auction on Thursday.

Kind regards.
Christian
www.watchcollector.lu

Christie's June 7 auction, New York ----> some of my favorites

With the upcoming auction in New York on June 7, Christie's managed again to establish a sublime catalogue of a nice choice with some extraordinary timepieces. Herewith I will present you some of my favorite watches from their sale.

First I would like to start with Lot N° 55. A sublime Vacheron & Constantin 4261 minute repeater cased in platinum, large case with 36mm, 13"' movement (without small seconds) and probably unique two tone sector dial. It is as well believed that this is the very first platinum example made with case number 318000 ("000" as well marked inside lug at 11 o'clock) as stated in the catalogue. Christie's had one 4216 in their November sale in 2015 (as seen on my blog here) and that one had the 12"' movement, 34mm pink gold case and champagne sector dial. It was sold for 257000CHF at that time. I am already pretty nervous to see where this outstanding platinum example will end. But something is for sure, if I was the buyer of the pink gold example sold on November 2015, I'd do everything to get this sublime platinum example too. A timepiece like this one and the one sold last year in November do always let my heartbeat going crazy, ah, it is a real feast to the eyes. These are real gentlemen's timepieces and sublime dresswatches and I think that with these watches we can talk about real rarity. It is estimated 200 000$ - 400 000$.

                                                                    

Now moving on to Lot N° 153. I am a big fan of Lange & Söhne. Their case design and movement architecture are unbelievable beautiful. And I do always ask myself the question, what if Lange & Söhne was there in the time when the legends were created, 1950-1980 (That might be a nice philosophic discussion for another time)? So, now this example offered by Christie's is something very special, a Lange 1 steel with black dial! This one will probably go nuts during the sale. But, as it is believed that 3 were made with black dials, I would really like to have a crytal ball to see in future if the other two will surface too. But this will probably stay a one off opportunity for a Lange & Söhne collector to top its collection with this outstanding and extraordinary Lange 1 steel black dial. I just love it, only by looking at the photos! It is estimated 200 000$ - 400 000$.

                                                                    

And now an important Patek Philippe enamel table clock retailed by Cartier "The Lady and the Unicorn", Lot N° 85. Only two of these dome enamel examples are known to be signed with Cartier; this one and the "Jeux de Voiles" sold by Sotheby's in 2008 at the October New York auction. The other example known with the "La Dame à la Licorne" was sold by Antiquorum in 2006, but the scene was completely differently presented. What makes this Lot N° 85 a unique piece!
These enamel timepieces are unbelievable beautiful and back in the time, you need to know that an enamel dial for a wristwatch took about 400 hours of pure craftsmenship, the enamel work was of higher quality in comparison to the enamel paintings from nowadays due to the quality and diversity of different enamel colours used. So, now one can imagine how many hundreds of hours Ms. Luce Chappaz, the émailleuse, had to spend to finish this breathtaking table clock. It is just unbelievable to think about it, every colour had to be burned at different temperatures in the kiln. The smallest mistake and the work of hours was ruined. This first series, solar powered, table clock tells the historical important scene of the Lady and the Unicorn which visualise the five senses of human nature (the original tapestries are held at the Musée national du Moyen Age à Paris, they are dated back to the beginning of the 16th century). The more this example comes from the family of the original owner and is offered for the first time on the market. Every time when I see these outstanding enamel artworks, my heart stops beating due to the pure beauty of these handcrafted masterpieces. Estimated 100 000$ - 150 000$.

Direct access to the online catalogue at Christie's: http://www.christies.com/zmags/?ZmagsPublishID=47deb1ad&SaleTitle=&SaleId=26085&GUID=&JumptoLot=

Big thanks to Christie's (special thanks to Rebecca, Vivian and Julie) for their sublime contact and for the photos.

Kind regards.
Christian
www.watchcollector.lu

Excelsior Park EP4 special case ----> available at my boutique

Dear watch aficionado.
 

This is a sublime, NOS condition, Excelsior Park EP-4 chronographe from around the late 1940s. (on the website of my boutique) The case is in perfect condition, never polished, perfect. The more, it is a very special case. And the dial, a real feast to the eyes. Matching lume indexes with the hands, the patina to the dial tends to a beautiful warm egg shell colour. This watch spent the most time of its life in a safe, that is for sure. Every gentlemen collector will immediately recognize the beauty of this sublime chronographe.

 

You can see on this photo of the caseback, that it is very special. You turn it 1/4 and the caseback is closed to the case. Not a normal snapback or screwed caseback.

Requests can be made via my website or directly by e-mail at the following address: info@watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian

Rolex 2940 Bubbleback --------> available at my boutique

Dear watch aficionado.

This superb and nice example of the legendary Rolex Bubbleback, 2940, in stainless steel is available now at my boutique. The case is in very good condition if ever, only very sligthly polished. It retains its beautiful shape and sharpness. The dial is a real feast to the eyes with a sublime patina, perfect matching lume indexes and hands. It is Swiss only signed. This is a very honest and outstanding looking Bubbleback. Comes as well with a later GF bracelet.

http://www.watchcollector.lu/#!Rolex%202940%20Bubbleback/zoom/c1oww/dataItem-ioczv52f

Requests can be made via my website or directly by e-mail at the following address: info@watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian

Louis Vuitton 1960s watch/briefcase

Dear watch aficionado.

I am very proud and happy, to inform you that from now on this superb Louis Vuitton briefcase from 1960s, that I transformed into a modular watch case, is available at my boutique:

http://www.watchcollector.lu/#!blank/ovzz2

This is an extraordinary Louis Vuitton briefcase from the 1960s in superb condition, which I modified with a modular system to a highly exclusive watchcase. The briefcase in itself is of sublime quality and in perfect condition. When you take a look at the pictues how beautifully the leather of the briefcase has aged over the last almost 60 years, sublime patina on the leather and on the brass work over the entire case. A real feat to the eyes! The more, this case was always used with its protective cover on the handle and as a result the original handle from the 1960s looks still like brand new! 

Now we come to the modular system that I developed especially for this case. All of the 5 modules and the pouche are handmade of finest Alcantara by a firm in Germany who does produce as well special interior designs for Porsche and Mercedes! All of the 5 modules can be taken out of the case, so to use it only as briefcase. I chose this methode, because only like this there are no damages caused to the original case and the briefcase in itself will be left all original. Now you can chose as well to take only 1 module and use the reat of the space as briefcase. Same with 2, 3 or 4 modules. The more, I developed this special pouche, which is detachable from the band, so that you have enough space for credit cards, business cards, pens, gloves, loupes,.... 

This is a highly exclusive, unique and extraordinary Louis Vuitton 1960s watchcase/briefcase for the gentlemen who loves to travel in style. 

I warmly invite you to make your request by e-mail on the following e-mail address: info@watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.

Christian