Andy Warhol’s vintage Patek Philippe fetched $378,000 at auction in New York. It was the fifth most valuable item in the December 5 Important Watches sale, in which two time pieces topped the million dollar mark.
Warhol’s watch was one of around just 450 18-karat gold Perpetual Calendar Patek Philippe. Warhol, a dedicated watch collector with over 300 pieces, bought it in 1978.
Warhol’s watch was restored by Stern Frères in the mid-1980s. It was listed with an estimate of $350,000 to $500,000 and realised $378,000.
Four time pieces made more at the sale.
An exceptionally rare early platinum chronometer wristwatch by independent watchmaker F.P. Journe realised $441,000.
It was a pre-subscription Resonance watch with the maker’s innovative resonance-controlled twin movement with brass gear trains and a power reserve. It was one of just 21 made.
A platinum tourbillon wristwatch by the same maker realised $693,000 against a $400,000-1,000,000 estimate. The sellers described it as “the earliest second-generation Tourbillon Souverain to be offered at international auction”. Numbered 27, the piece was made in 1999.
A one-of-a-kind Richard Mille tourbillon watch sailed past its top estimate of $1 million to sell for $1.26 million.
A Richard Mille/Boucheron collaboration watch has made over $1 million.
The piece was made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of luxury house Boucheron in 2008.
The skeletonized watch in 1 39 mm case of 18k white gold was the first by Richard Mille to hold a sapphire crystal-plate movement. It is both a technical and aesthetic triumph from a limited run of just 30.
The most valuable piece at the New York sale was described as “one of the most important wristwatches of our time”.
The Patek Philippe 44 mm Sy Moon Tourbillon has an incredible 12 complications, including a “cathedral” minute repeater, and celestial sky chart.
Listed for sale with an estimate of $1,200,000 to $2,200,000 the watch realized an extraordinary $1,562,500.
Patek Philippes remain the most sought-after pre-owned luxury brand. The luxury watch market has shown something of a downturn in recent months, but at the very top of the market, the rarest and most precious references continue to soar in value.
