Cartier Ballon Bleu Silver Dial 18kt Rose Gold Diamond Unisex Watch WE900551

Sotheby's Hong Kong Important Watches Autumn Sale 2013 will take place on 8 October at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. In celebration of Sotheby's 40th anniversary in Asia, the sale will bring together the finest and rarest of modern timepieces from established manufacturers such as Patek Philippe, as well as creations of independent watchmakers including Richard Mille's "Rafael Nadal" tourbillon made for the tennis player, many of them never seen before at auction.
The sale will also highlight Magnificent Clocks From An Important Private Collection - Part II, highly anticipated following the huge success in April 2013.
Offering approximately 500 lots, the sale is estimated to achieve approximately HK$112 million / US$14 million* - the highest pre-sale estimate of the category at Sotheby's Hong Kong.
Patek Philippe - Platinum and diamond-set automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch with cathedral gongs, moon-phases and Leap year indicators, circa 2013, Ref. 5073P (Est. HK$5.5 - 6 million / US$710,000-840,000)
This is the first time a Patek Philippe Ref. 5073 has appeared at auction. Available only in platinum, the Ref. 5073 features the same complications as a Ref. 5074P yet is set with baguette diamonds to a striking effect. Like the Ref. 5074, revered for the sublime tones of its repeater, the Ref. 5073 with its "Cathedral gongs" faithfully chimes the hours, quarters and minutes with perfect clarity.
Patek Philippe - White gold and diamond-set automatic astronomical calendar wristwatch with sky chart, phases and position of the moon and time of meridian passage of Sirius and the moon, 2011, Ref. 6104G (Est. HK$2.2 - 2.7 million / US$280,000 - 350,000)
Fresh to the auction market, the Patek Philippe Ref. 6104G, "Celestial with Date", available only in white gold, features a sky chart with phases and positions of the moon with a date as well as a baguette diamond bezel. The 44mm-diameter case is highly unusual for Patek Philippe and gives an impressive appearance on the wrist with the diamonds adding a touch of brilliance.
Patek Philippe - Platinum rectangular tourbillon wristwatch with 10-Day power reserve indication and custom-ordered black dial with diamond indexes, 2013, Ref.5101P (Est. HK$2.5 - 3.2 million / US$320,000-410,000)
Created as a special commission in 2013, this Patek Philippe Ref. 5101P is the only known example with a black dial, diamond indexes and red highlights, and the first with a custom-ordered dial to appear at auction. Special-order dials are only created by Patek Philippe for a very select group of long-term collectors and therefore rarely appear on the market. The discontinuation of the platinum version in 2009 and its replacement by yellow gold and pink gold versions Visually the black dial, instead of the usual salmon3 coloured one, changes the look of the watch and makes the model more elegant. The 10-day tourbillon is built subtly at the back of the classic rectangular case with stepped sides and offered in contemporary proportions.
Richard Mille - Light-weighted limited edition carbon composite tonneau-form tourbillon wristwatch, circa 2011, RM027 Rafael Nadal, No. 16/50 (Est. HK$2.5 - 3.5 million / US$320,000-450,000)
Create in conjunction with and specifically for the tennis player Rafael Nadal, RM027 was the world's lightest tourbillon wristwatch when it was launched and Nadal has been seen wearing one throughout his career since its release. With a specially created polymercarbon case and titanium movement formed only of drilled bridges, when fitted to a Velcro strap the watch, weighing a mere 23 grammes, is so light it floats on water. The RM027 was released in a limited edition of only 50 numbered examples, all of which were immediately sold. Unveiled on the wrist of Nadal at Roland Garros in 2010 - the same year Nadal achieved No. 1 ranking in the men's singles - the watch created a media frenzy as Nadal was the only highly ranked tennis star to wear a watch while playing.
Richard Mille - Magnesium tonneau-form skeletonised tourbillon wristwatch made in a limited edition of 38 examples, circa 2011, RM038 (Est. HK$2.3 - 3.2 million / US$300,000-410,000)
Making its debut at auction, the RM038 tourbillon was created in a limited edition of only 38 numbered examples for the renowned US golfer, Bubba Watson, and specially designed to withstand the extreme G-force created when Bubba hits the ball. The RM038 is housed in a Magnesium WE54 case, an alloy usually used for construction and a novelty for watchmaking, which was chosen by the Richard Mille research and development team for its light weight, strength and resistance to distortion at extreme temperatures. The watch was released in 2011 and first seen on the wrist of Bubba Watson, who continued wearing the watch as he became the US Masters later that year.
Chime sublime
Vacheron Constantin - Highly complicated pink gold minute repeating perpetual calendar tourbillon wristwatch, circa 2010, Ref. 80172 Patrimony (Est. HK$3.2 - 4.8 million / US$410,000 - 620,000)
Vacheron Constantin started making multi-complication watches with repeaters as early as the late 19th century. Launched at SIHH in 2007, this "Patrimony" is equipped with minute repeating, perpetual calendar and tourbillon functions. Featuring the Cal.2755 movement which consists of 602 parts, this watch was the most complicated model in production at the time. The watchmakers' meticulous attention to the tone and clarity of the minute repeater chime is apparent. The minute repeating mechanism includes a 4 centripetal speed regulator which eliminates the noise interference normally experienced with pallet systems. The result is one of the clearest chimes the company has ever produced. Housed within a 44mm-diameter pink gold case, the movement is a combination of three most sought-after functions, presenting an extraordinary challenge to watchmakers and making it every connoisseur's trophy.
MAGNIFICENT CLOCKS FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION - PART II
Sotheby's Hong Kong will present Magnificent Clocks From An Important Private Collection - Part II this October. Following the initial success in April with all 22 lots sold and the "The Magpie's Treasure Nest Clock" by Patek Philippe achieving a record-setting HK$18.04 million / US$2.31 million, these stunning timepieces are set to appeal to collectors worldwide.
Patek Philippe
"Magnificent Fancy Carp And Rock Crystal Fountain Clock" A Superb And Substantial Yellow Gold, Rock Crystal, Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, White And Black Mother-Of-Pearl Mantel Clock Ref. 2061, Made In 1991 Est. HK$2 - 3 million / US$260,000 - 380,000
Cartier
"Glorious 24 Hour Elephant Masterpiece Globe Clock" A Wonderful And Unique Yellow Gold, Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Rock Crystal And Citrine 24 Hour Rotating Globe Clock Of Exhibition Quality, Circa 1990 Est. HK$1.5 - 2.5 million / US$190,000 - 320,000.
Gerd Dor
"Giant Panda Clock" A Very Rare And Highly Appealing Gold, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Enamel And Obsidian Mantel Clock Est. HK$400,000 - 600,000 / US$51,000 - 77,000.