Antiquorum New York Strikes A High Note To Finish Year

NEW YORK CITY

:The auction year has ended for Antiquorum New York with a $5,787,000 sale of collectors' wristwatches, pocket watches and clocks on December 7. With over 250 registered bidders as well as room and phone bidders the result was 124 percent by value and 92 percent by lot sold. Intense international competition came from countries such as Italy, Germany, Russia, Hong Kong, China as well as the United States. Antiquorum New York has ended the year with a total of $19,306,000 in sales.

"This year's unprecedented results confirm that New York has become a significant center for watch auctions. New York is now exceeded only by Geneva in the watch auction market," said Osvaldo Patrizzi, chairman of Antiquorum Auctioneers.

The auction's top lot was a Patek Philippe, Genève, unique platinum Ref 5016, which achieved $505,500. Production started in 1993 of this astronomic, minute-repeating, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, retrograde perpetual calendar and moon phases.

Another watch that attracted intense competition was the Audemars Piguet minute-repeating turbillon "cabinet watch," which fetched $335,000. A large, minute-repeating, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, coaxial round button split-seconds chronograph, and register, it was made in a limited edition of only 20 watches in 1999.

Another Patek Philippe wristwatch, Ref 5013, a tonneau-shaped, astronomic, minute-repeating, self-winding, platinum gentleman's with retrograde perpetual calendar, moon phases and leap year indication brought $456,000. The "Triple Complication" Patek Philippe & Cie, with a case made in 1980, sold for $172,200. A keyless, minute-repeating, astronomic, 18K yellow gold, pocket watch had a perpetual calendar, moon phases and split-seconds chronograph.

Color was important for the "Pink World Time" Patek Philippe & Cie, Ref 1415. Made in 1944, sold originally on March 20, 1947, this 18K pink gold gentleman's "World Time" wristwatch with pink dial sold for $131,500. The "Yellow Ref 5004" Patek Philippe, made circa 2000, brought $126,000 for an astronomic, water resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with coaxial round button split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, and moon phases.

An even more contemporary tonneau-shaped and curved, two time zones, 18K white gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, torque indicator and power-reserve, the "Tourbillon RM003," Richard Mille, began production in 2003 and fetched $126,000.

Two Patek Philippe & Cie watches brought $115,000 each: the "Platinum Retrograde Calendar" Ref 5050, circa 2000, astronomic, center-seconds, self-winding, platinum gentleman's wristwatch, with perpetual calendar, retrograde date display, leap year and phases of the moon and the Ref 699/4 keyless, minute-repeating, astronomic, 18K yellow gold pocket watch with perpetual calendar and moon phases, made in the 1940s.

The Cartier "Art Deco" rock crystal and enamel strut timepiece sold for $86,250. Two Rolex watches that sparked collectors' attention were the so-called "Paul Newman" watches in stainless steel that sold for $85,100 as well as the stainless steel "Milgauss" wristwatch that sold for $82,800. All prices given include the buyer's premium charged.

For information, 212-750-1103 or Antiquorum.com.