This June an exceptionally valuable Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon heads Christie’s, Hong Kong, Sale of Important Watches.
The overall auction comprises 570 lots with a total value of HK$80 million/$10.5 million which aside from the spectacular Patek (above) is headlined by The Millenium Collection.
A selection of 175 watches assembled by a private collector worth HK$13 million/$1.7 million – the focus of this collection is on the intricacies of mechanical complications.
Key examples include the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Grand Sonnerie Dynamograph, Richard Mille RM002 and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 1 (below).
Perhaps the most exciting peice is the latter, centring round the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 177. It combines the world’s first spherical multi-axis tourbillon with a running equation of time and 8 days power reserve as well as a perpetual calendar equipped with four retrograde hands.
Blending contemporary style and mechanics, only 75 pieces have ever been made while annual production is limited to 20 pieces. It’s valued at HK$1,550,000-2,350,000/US$ 200,000–300,000.
The Millenium Collection aside, the attention will turn to the star lot, the Patek Philippe Reference 5002P. With a pre-sale estimate of HK$6.5- 10 million/$830,000-1.28 million, it’s the most valuable timepiece ever offered by Christie’s in Asia.
Known as the Sky Moon Tourbillon, the Reference 5002P is the most complicated wristwatch ever produced by Patek Philippe and regarded by many as the finest watch in existence. It features 686 parts that operate 12 of the most significant horological complications: the tourbillon, perpetual calendar, moon age, leap year cycle, day of the week, month, date, fly back, minute repeater, sky chart, moon phases and orbit.
As befitting a magnum opus of this technical complexity only one out of the 180 master watchmakers at Patek Philippe is able to create this reference.
Other notable timepieces falling under the hammer include the Piaget Aura (estimate: HK$800,000-1,300,000/ $100,000-170,000) and Patek Philippe’s Grand Complication Sky Moon Celestial Reference 5102J in yellow gold (estimate HK$1,300,000-1,600,000/$167,000-205,000).