The outstanding Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces Geneva auction achieved more than  CHF 6 Million with more than 83% of watches sold (CHF 6,188,875 incl. buyer’s premium).

Antiquorum Geneva (July 1^st, 2020) — Past Sunday June 28^th, Antiquorum, the world’s premier auctioneers of modern and vintage timepieces, established in Geneva in 1974, hosted a memorable auction at Beau-Rivage Genève hotel with remarkable results including three record-breaking Rolex sales.

“After months of uncertainty and cautiousness, we were extremely glad and excited to host our auction at the Beau-Rivage Genève. Initially planned in May, this major auction has been delayed to June 28^th to allow us to go live and to find back our beloved collectors and watch afficionados back. We were also broadcasting online for our international audience unable to travel. It was a tremendous pleasure and honor to find you back for this successsful auction achieving more than 100% of the low estimations in sales !” said Romain Rea, Antiquorum CEO.

This Antiquorum auction made history with three impressive world-records for Rolex watches: LOT 379, 346 & 345.

LOT 379 – Rolex, Ref. 6034, Oyster Chronograph, 18K rose gold, circa 1955 – An extremely fine and rare, manual wind, 18k rose gold chronograph wristwatch. The Rolex 6034 is an icon in Rolex chronograph for a few reasons. The first one is that its reference number starts with a 6XXX, which denotes the first steps into the more sporty versions of chronographs that would end with the reference 6263/6265, the second is that it is only the second chronograph featuring a screw-down waterproof caseback not only increasing its usability but also adding thickness/ ruggedness to the case. This particular example is what one could call in “Concours” unrestored condition. First one is taken back by the overall condition of the piece, the case not only being in close to mint condition as evidenced by the two crisp deep hallmarks on the lugs but more amazingly, 3 crisp hallmarks on the back of the case that are almost never seen as usually worn or polished off. The beautiful and extremely rare Rolex pink gold riveted bracelet is also tight and in perfect condition showing no stretch. The rare dial shows a wonderful light patina from age but is free from oxydation and damage as many examples from this period show. Furthermore it is a rare configuration with luminous dauphine hands and indexes with all luminous perfectly matching and still in place. Rarely found in pink gold, this is, without a doubt, the best example Antiquorum has ever offered at auction.

Estimation : CHF 250’000 – 350’000
Result : CHF 600’000 incl. premium’s buyer

 LOT 346 – extremely rare Rolex Ref. 1680 Submariner, COMEX from 1979. The COMEX Ref. 1680 is probably the rarest of all COMEX sport watches, since COMEX only received approximately 60 examples. The great majority of those were later serviced, with the COMEX dial being replaced with a regular Rolex dial. Indeed, surprisingly, at that time many owners did not like the COMEX logo on the dial. This example has been kept in amazing condition as it was never used for diving operations and is complete with its original punched warranty, another unusual feature as most were retained by Comex and never given to the final owner.

Estimation : CHF 150’000 – 250’000
Result : CHF 524’000 incl. premium’s buyer

LOT 345 –  an astonishing Rolex Ref. 1680, Red Submariner, Meter First Mark II, tropical dial with box and papers from circa 1969. The “Red” Submariner is one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex references. The example to be auctioned has a gorgeous brown aged and incredibly uniform tropical dial. The dial is a Mark II, as signified by the meters first configuration, the open number six, and the the elongated “f” in “ft.” This watch is in fantastic condition, with its correct punched Chronometer attestation and its original fitted bracelet date 1971 which only adds to its appeal.

Estimation : CHF 40’000 – 60’000
Result : CHF 103’750 incl. premium’s buyer

The auction began in the beautiful and sunny Salon de l’Imperatrice, at the Beau-Rivage hotel, with many bidders presents around the auctionner for the first hammers session. The unmissable IWC collectors were thrilled by two very fine and very rare IWC wristwatches, Ref. 520 and Ref. 521 LOT 16 & LOT 17, from 1950, in 18K Rose gold with flower cloisonné dial, original box and warranty.

Lot  16
Low Estimate : CHF 5’000
Sold for: CHF 20,000 

Lot  17
Low Estimate CHF 5’000
Sold By : CHF 23,750 

LOT 41, A fine and very rare diver’s wristwatch with alarm and decompression tables Vulcain, Ref. S 2321, Cricket Nautical, manual wind in stainless steel performed more than 2,5 times its low estimate with a sale at CHF 43’750 – the highest price ever at an auction for this reference.

In the world of alarm divers watches, the Vulcain Nautical Cricket is probably one of the most sought-after alongside the Jaeger Polaris. Made in far fewer numbers, Vulcain enlisted the help of three exceptional individuals, Hannes Keller, Arthur Droz and Max-Yves Brandly. Hannes Keller was the most famous of all thanks to his diving exploits as he set a world diving record in 1962 at 300m. Max-Yves Brandly was an explorer and film director. The last of the three was the Swiss Arthur Droz, instructeur national de plongée et délégué du Centre d’investigations et d’activités sous-marines

Lot  41
Low Estimate : CHF 15’000
Sold By : CHF 43,750 

Part of last Sunday highlights, three gorgeous clocks from private noble European families multiplied their estimates by 2,8 to 5,5 times : LOT 305 a fine and rare Cartier « My Best Wishes » minute repeater clock with enamel dial, LOT 306 Cartier watch & clock « Chinoiserie » with agate and mother of pearl and LOT 307 a somptuous Boucheron desk clock in Malachite, Jade, gold, onyx and silver with diamond indexes and bezel set with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Lot  305
Low Estimate : CHF 4,000
Sold for : CHF 22,500

Lot  306
Low Estimate : CHF 10,000
Sold for : CHF 28,750

Lot  307
Low Estimate : CHF 8,000
Sold for : CHF 31,250

Audemars Piguet keeps driving a lot of interest with two iconic Royal Oak references hammered above their high estimates: 

LOT 277:
Ref. 5402, Jumbo Royal Oak, b series, steel and 18K yellow gold
Low Estimate : CHF 10,000
Sold for : CHF 28,750 

LOT 281:
Ref. 25654ba, Royal Oak, perpetual calendar, 18K yellow gold.
Low Estimate : CHF 35,000
Sold for : CHF 76,250 

Among Cartier’s selection, a brand always in great demand by collectors, Antiquorum would like to highlight

Cartier Tonneau in 18K yellow gold from 1925 in excellent condition. These mythical Tonneau shaped wristwatches early examples have become the inspiration behind current models.

LOT 122
Low Estimate : CHF 4,000
Sold for : CHF 12,500 

Cartier Tank cintrée Ref. 2718, in 18K yellow gold. The French Maison launched the ‘Collection Privée, Cartier Paris’ in 1998 to celebrate the manufacture’s most iconic timepieces, such as the Santos, Tank or Tortue model. Released in 2004 in a limited-edition series of 150 pieces, The present watch, numbered 087 was accompanied with its original accessories.

Low Estimate : CHF 5,000
Sold for : CHF 26,250 

Antiquorum was also proud to present the historical LOT 308, a very fine Vacheron Constantin Ref. 4195 gifted by Maria Eva Durante de Perón better known as the legendary Eva Perón or Evita to Fernando Rein Loring, a Spanish pilote, famous for the successful first 16’000 km flight between Madrid and Manilla, a feat at the time for the Spanish aviation. In 1947, the skilled pilote, took Eva Perón from Buenos Aires to Madrid where she was invited to meet the General Francisco Franco. The precious watch was auctioned along with its enamel and gold medal engraved with the name of the pilote commemorating the trip “Buenos Aires – Madrid” and sold for CHF 40’000.

LOT 308
Low Estimate : CHF 10,000
Sold for : CHF 40,000

A rarity worthy to be noted is the LOT 310, this watch-object, dating from the early 17^th century, is the only one of its kind known to date. Indeed, it was necessary to wait until the beginning of the 19^th century to find another knife-watch. This object will unveil its mystery to its future owner who wisely acquired the precious object for CHF 32’500

LOT 310
Low Estimate : CHF 25,000
Sold for : CHF 32,500

Another delightful rarity showing the diversity of Antiquorum sale, is LOT 335, a rare, steel and wood, working demonstration Omega escapement model with winding key probably one of the lot with the greatest number of bids for the day since it went from its low estimate CHF 800 to a final CHF 6’000. A great collectible object for Omega watch aficionados.

LOT 335
Low Estimate : CHF 800
Sold for : CHF 6,000

The auction carried on with two out-of-the-ordinary calendar watches. LOT 378, a never-produced Rolex Oyster quartz Perpetual Calendar Prototype. This extremely rare watch features a 5355-55 caliber, a movement that has the particularity to be completely silent (a remarkable difference with the 5055). The unusual watch from 1997 offered with a fitted box, Rolex booklet copy and three extra-battery attracted huge attention and went for CHF 243’750.

LOT 378
Low Estimate : CHF 150,000
Sold for : CHF 243,750

On a completely different range of interest, Antiquorum presented another very fine and very rare calendar LOT 394. A Patek Philippe Digital Perpetual Calendar à guichet (with apertures) in 18K yellow gold. It appears that this precious timekeeper has only been produced in a very limited eight pieces in the late 30’s and early 40’s; only four of them went to auction and among them three are today kept in the Patek Philippe Museum. The outstanding timekeeper was sold for CHF 118’750.

LOT 394
Low Estimate : CHF 80,000
Sold for : CHF 118,750

Another Pocket watch from 1915, sold in 1920, LOT 294 Patek Philippe Pocket watch, minute-repeater, split-seconds chronograph in 18K yellow gold.

Provenance: The Watch of Albert Lincoln Smith, Presented by Harry W. Child Only 170 pieces made by Patek Philippe with minute repeating and split-second chronograph in open face cased are known: 39 pieces with 17” movement and only 15 with 39 jewels such as this lot which is the only one with its original certificate. The enameled monogram on the back of the case was made for Albert Lincoln Smith who was the President of the Montana Trust and Savings Bank in the 1920’s. Involved in many charities, during WW1 the bank supported the Montana Loyalty League and the Red Cross. Furthermore the watch was donated by Harry W. Child who on top of establishing the San Francisco Stock exchange in 1882, was the founder of the Yellowstone Park company offering various services to the visitors of the Yellowstone National Park from 1892 to 1980.

LOT 294
Low Estimate : CHF 35,000
Sold for : CHF 71,250

The auction reached the end of its journey with the breathtaking LOT 398 Rolex Paul Newman Daytona, with its original box and warranty from 1974, sold new at Bucherer in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Consigned by the family of the original owner, Antiquorum was honored to present this masterpiece, the epitome of any watch collection. A completely original grail piece with all lume plots present perfectly matching to the hands and mounted on its original bracelet sold for CHF 518’000.

LOT 294
Low Estimate : CHF 350,000
Sold for : CHF 518,000

With more than 83% of the watch lots sold, the entire auction reached in sale more than 100% of the low estimations. Antiquorum experts explain these remarkable results by the quality of the auction selection but also by the ever growing interest for rare and extremely fine timepieces.