Christie’s Watches Hong Kong has announced a number of live and online sales for the coming year. This includes hundreds of watches owned by one person, known as the “Champion Collection.” The first sale under this heading was held last November while parts two through five will be taking place from April through December in a series of live and online auctions.
In total, this sale of this single-owner collection will consist of about 450 modern and contemporary watches that include significant and iconic timepieces by major watch brands such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Panerai, IWC and Vacheron Constantin. The collection was created over a 20-year period “by a prominent private collector whose discernment, taste and deep appreciation of the highest level of horology can now be shared with collectors worldwide,” Christie’s said in a statement.
The single-owner collection will kick off April 6 with “The Champion Collection Part II: Sport Elegance,” an online sale of more than 120 lots representing 15 brands. It is led by new, contemporary watches, many of which are hard to find in the retail market, Christie’s said in a statement. The online-only sale will run till April 20.
Among the highlights are:
- A Rolex Daytona Ref. 116506 in platinum with an “ice-blue” dial,
- A Rolex GMT Master II Ref. 126755SARU with diamond-set bezel and lugs, and
- An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Self-winding Ref. 15400OR.
Introduced in 2013, the Daytona Cosmograph Platinum (reference 116506) was created by Rolex to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its most celebrated watch. In 2016, the steel Daytona was refreshed with a black ceramic bezel on the 116500LN series. The platinum model being offered with its blue dial has an estimate of HK$700,000 - $1.4 million (US$89,000 - $178,853).
The Rolex GMT Master II (reference 126755SARU) being offered is in rose gold with an Oyster monobloc case set with round brilliant-cut diamonds. The “Pepsi” bezel with baguette sapphires and rubies denote day and night, and baguette diamonds serve as hour markers. Its estimate is HK$600,000 - $1.2 million (US$76,650 - $153,302).
Described as “coveted” by the auction house, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15400OR being offered is in 18k pink gold housing a white dial with a grande tapisserie pattern. Around it, the pink gold indexes as well as the hours and minutes hands have luminescent coating. The date window is located at 3 o’clock. The AP logo is displayed at 12 o’clock in gold. The automatic movement is visible through the sapphire case back. The watch is completed with an 18k rose gold bracelet. Its estimate is HK$400,000 - $800,000 (US$51,100 - $102,201).
The auctions of this single-owner collection continue with “The Champion Collection Part III: ‘The Artistry of Complications,” a live auction consisting of 71 lots taking place May 24.
Christie’s Watches Hong Kong will also offer “The Champion Collection Part IV: The Panerai Encyclopedia: Chapter I,” offering 85 Panerai timepieces online in July.
The next leg of the single-owner sale is titled “The Finest Watchmaking,” scheduled for November. It’s led by 83 timepieces including Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin enamel watches.
Concluding the year will be an online sale in December presenting the series finale, “The Champion Collection Part V: The Panerai Encyclopedia: Final Chapter” with 83 Panerai timepieces.
