Sotheby’s achieves records at Hong Kong watches sale
HONG KONG, April 5, 2012 – Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale on April 4 achieved a total of HK$100 million / US$13 million, the second highest total for a sale Of Important Watches at Sotheby’s Worldwide.
Vanessa Herrera, Head of Watches, Sotheby’s China and Southeast Asia, said: “Creations by master independent watchmakers Philippe Dufour and Greubel & Forsey shone alongside grand complications by Patek Philippe, with the top lot, a unique Philippe Dufour pink gold two-train minute repeating grande and petite sonnerie wristwatch selling online through BidNow, realising a price of HK$4.82 million / US$617,949 (Est. HK$2.2 – 3.2 million / US$280,000 – 410,000).”
This was a world auction record for a Philippe Dufour wristwatch.
“This illustrates the growing significance of independent watchmakers in the auction arena, which will undoubtedly be brought once again into the limelight with the highly anticipated sale of the George Daniels’ Horological Collection at Sotheby’s London in November,” Herrera said.
A Patek Philippe Ref. 5079 wristwatch achieved a world auction record of US$510,256 at the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale.
