05.02.2017 - News

Our Top 5 Picks From The Sotheby’s Auction In London 25th April 2017

Sotheby’s auction house in London is home to some of the most exquisite auctions in the art and watches industry the world has ever seen, and the past auction on the 25th April is a firm addition to that list. From the latest Audemars Piguet to vintage Rolex, the auction featured some fine timepieces which did wet the appetite of the most avid watch collector. Here are our top five picks from the auction:

Lot 45 – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello Platinum Ceramic

Lot 45 included the iconic Audemars Piguet limited edition platinum and ceramic automatic chronograph Rubens Barrichello Royal Oak Offshore. This timepiece is limited to 150 pieces worldwide. The watch case is 42mm in platinum, with a ceramic bezel and an Audemars Piguet blue alligator strap. The blue openworked dial and features applied luminescent baton numerals, a grey tachymeter scale, turned subsidiary dials and aperture for date. The watch houses the automatic caliber 2326/2840 nickel lever movement with 50 jewels and a mono-metallic balance for improved reliability. The lot sold for £55,000.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello Platinum

Lot 100 – George Daniels Slim Co-Axial Escapement Millenium White Gold

Lot 100 included a very special timepiece which has revolutionised the entire horological industry with one master technical change – the introduction of the co-axial escapement. This rare white gold automatic centre seconds wristwatch features a stunning two-tone gold dial with a time and date display, encased in a 39mm white gold case. The story and creator behind the watch is even more unique – the Millenium watch was made by Dr. George Daniels who is recognised as one of the greatest watchmakers of the 20th century. In 1981 he received an MBE for his services to horology and in 2010 a CBE – the first watchmaker ever to receive such an honour. The Millenium watch was the first limited edition from George Daniels – with 47 timepieces made in yellow gold and 7 timepieces in white gold.

George Daniels Slim Co-Axial Escapement Millenium White Gold

The creation of the co-axial escapement served to improve the long-term performance of the mechanical wristwatch. The escapement is virtually without sliding friction meaning that unlike the conventional lever escapement the rate is unaffected by the viscosity of the lubricant inside the watch. This watch is an true icon in the history of haute horlogerie. Lot 100 sold for a staggering £187,500.

Lot 104 – A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Tourbillon Platinum

Lot 104 featured a stunning A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 platinum tourbillon wristwatch with a date and power reserve indication. The watch is a limited edition timepiece to just 150 pieces worldwide. The 38mm platinum case houses the incredible caliber L961.1 three-quarter plate manual winding nickel lever movement featuring 49 jewels and balance oscillating within a one-minute tourbillon carriage. The matte silvered dial features roman numerals, diamond indexes, an outer minute track and subsidiary seconds dials, aperture revealing tourbillon carriage, fan-form sector for power reserve indication and oversized twin aperture for the date. A truly remarkable timepiece with various functions and gadgets. Overall, Lot 104 sold for £75,000.

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Tourbillon

Lot 126 – Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman Panda’ Stainless Steel

Lot 126 featured the iconic vintage Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ in stainless steel with the original ‘panda’ dial to match. For those that are don’t know, the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman is one of the most iconic watches Rolex have ever produced, and recently have been spotted at a few auctions making double the estimated price. The watch retains its iconic status because it was cherished by actor and professional driver Paul Newman, who later had the watch nicknamed after himself. This particular reference (ref 6265) is 36mm in stainless steel features the classic caliber 727 manual winding movement and steel bezel with tachymeter scale, used by all Daytona models aside from the 116500LN. Lot 126 reached a whopping £272,750 at this auction.

Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Panda Ref 6265 Stainless Steel

Lot 171 – Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Reference 5970 Platinum

Lot 171 included the fantastic rare and important Patek Philippe Ref 5970P, a wristwatch with a perpetual calendar complication, chronograph, moon-phase and leap year indication. The watch is powered by the manual winding lever movement caliber 27-70/150, and housed by a 40mm round platinum case and black satin finish dial. The reference 5970 was launched in 2004 and later discontinued 6 years later, but is a fine example of the signature perpetual calendar chronograph movement that Patek Philippe is so renowned for.

Patek Philippe 5790P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph

The platinum version of reference 5970 was the final material to be released. Available from around 2009 to 2010, the 5970P was reportedly the lowest production of any ref 5970 metals, with less than 25 examples known. This watch sold for £137,500 and concluded the Sotheby’s auction.

Images courtesy of Sotheby’s