Christie’s New York closed a very successful season of watch auctions on December 17, with a 365-lot auction of “Important Watches” that achieved a total of $12,926,175, including a new auction record for the highest-selling timepiece, a Rolex reference 8171 “Padellone” in steel. Here are the top 10 sellers in Christie’s year-ending watch auction.
1. Rolex Stainless Steel Reference 8171 “Padellone,” circa 1953
This exceptional Rolex watch, nicknamed “Sleeping Beauty,” sold for $1,145,000, quadrupling its pre-sale estimate of $250,000 – $350,000. It is a stainless steel and diamond-set triple calendar watch with a moon-phase display and powered by an automatic movement. The final price is a new world auction record for this Rolex watch reference.
2. Patek Philippe Reference 2499
This Patek Philippe perpetual calendar watch, manufactured in 1960, also has a chronograph and moon-phase display. It has an 18k gold case and a matte silvered dial surrounded by a tachymeter scale. Its final sale price of $725,000 fell within its estimated range of $550,000 – $750,000.
3. Richard Mille Reference RM027-01 AK CA, No. 14/50
A limited-edition Richard Mille watch in a titanium-carbon composite monobloc case, this relatively new model (made in 2012) sold for $605,000. It has a skeletonized movement with a tourbillon.
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