Lot 115 is a Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 2 from around 2009. This watch is historically significant because it added a second exquisite model to the manufacture’s Gyrotourbillon line that kicked off in 2004, but also because it was the first wristwatch to utilize a cylindrical spring with a multi-axis tourbillon.
This watch is described in detail in Beautiful Contrasts: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2.
Lot 58 is a true specialty for connoisseurs: the L-Evolution is a manually winding flying carrousel/karussel wristwatch developed by A.H.C.I. co-founder Vincent Calabrese for Blancpain. The beauty and elegance of the complicated movement created in 2010 is highlighted by the extraordinary use of sapphire crystal for the movement’s plates and bridges.
Learn more about this rare mechanical specialty’s evolution in L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel By Blancpain: Whirlwind And Karussel Converge.
Eric Clapton has emerged as one of the auction world’s most influential fine timepiece owners in addition to his day job as a world-renowned guitarist, helping to pique the interest of prospective and existing collectors at auction.
Clapton has put his Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (Lot 88) into this auction, but you will note it doesn’t have the usual metal bracelet attached to the watch head. That is because the guitar god known as Slowhand requested a rubber strap be specially made for it. The original gold bracelet with Easylink comfort extension and Oysterlock safety clasp, never worn, comes with the lot purchase. This watch was manufactured around 2014, just before the new Rolex Daytona was introduced on a serial rubber strap.
At Phillips inaugural Geneva Watch Auction: ONE, an “Albino” Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 6263 from 1971 once owned by Eric Clapton went way over its estimate and achieved a sale price of 1,325,000 Swiss francs, breaking existing world auction records as the most expensive Rolex ever sold (see Steel Patek Philippe And Eric Clapton’s Rolex Daytona 6263 Oyster Albino Smash World Auction Records) at the time. That record has since been broken by the “Bao Dai Rolex” and is likely to be broken again by Paul Newman’s own Rolex Paul Newman, which is set to go under the hammer in October 2017 (see Paul Newman’s Own Paul Newman Rolex Daytona To Go Up For Auction).
What is expected to be the top lot of the auction is number 60, a delicacy from Patek Philippe.
This seriously rare Patek Philippe dates from the first series of a very limited production line – it is believed only 12 examples were manufactured each year before being discontinued in 2009. This example, manufactured in about 1995, was previously sold at Bonham’s on December 17, 1997.
Interestingly, a uniquely customized Patek Philippe Reference 5004P previously owned by Eric Clapton was offered by Phillips in 2016 at Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO, where it sold for an impressive HK$6,280,000 (approx. £632,640).