Two Patek Philippes in pink gold are expected to realise the highest prices at the first of Sotheby’s “Important Watches” sales in Geneva in November.
The top estimate in the live sale Important Watches: Part I on November 5 is attached to a Patek Philippe reference 1518 from 1941. It is named the ‘The Clarin Mustad’ after its first owner, a Norwegian car magnate.
The stand-out feature of the watch is its perpetual calendar, the first mass produced such complication on any chronograph wristwatch.
According to Sotheby’s: “The reference was a pivotal model for the firm and played a significant role in their development of complicated wristwatches and led to their unbroken dominance in the Industry.”
Most of this model were made with a yellow-gold case. The one for sale in Geneva is believed to be from just 58 in pink gold cases. It also has an unusual matching pink dial that makes it one of just 14 so-called ‘pink on pink’ examples.
It is rendered unique by an “Empire” case, integral bracelet, dot hour markers and more.
The watch is presented with an estimate of 2 million to 4 million Swiss Francs, around $2,232,640 – $4,465,240.
The Patek Phillipe reference 5531R-001 carries an estimate of 600,000 to 1 million Swiss Francs ($669,786 to $1,116,310).
It is also in pink gold. It is a 2022 example of a reference launched in 2017 with a minute repeater and world time feature.
It’s most obvious special feature is the cloisonné enamel dial with its view of Lake Geneva. This is from the second series of two extremely limited illustrated dials, the first of which depicted New York.
Design innovations in the watch’s complications allowed this model, for the first time, to strike the time in the time zone where the wearer is.
Important Watches: Part I takes place in Geneva on November 5th from 10:30am CET. The second part of the sale, Important Watches: Part II, takes place on November 7th.
