Patrizzi & Co - Cartier Table Clock at New York Auctions
Patrizzi & Co Opens 2010 Auction Year with Significant Cartier Timepieces and Over 150 Collector-Level Wristwatches, Pocket Watches and Clocks for March 9 Auction in New York City.
A 1929 gold-and-nephrite Cartier table clock featuring grande sonnerie chimes—one of two clocks with the most complicated mechanism ever made by the company—highlights Patrizzi & Co's first 2010 horologic auction, to be held Tuesday, March 9, in New York City with simultaneous bidding online. "Timeless Emotions - Collecting Pocket Watches, Wristwatches & Clocks" will showcase more than 150 collector-level timepieces, including an outstanding selection of vintage Cartier wristwatches, clocks and pocket watches.
"This will be the most important sale of Cartier timepieces since 1996. The table clock is exquisite. It's extremely rare to find a large Comet clock with the grand sonnerie, moon phases and calendar," said Osvaldo Patrizzi, president and chief executive officer of Patrizzi & Co. "With its distinguished history and esthetic prowess, Cartier is commanding top prices and is particularly desirable with clients in China."
Grande sonnerie striking hours marking the quarter hours is extremely rare for a Cartier desk clock. The case is in 14k yellow gold with nephrite base and side panels. Its enamel face depicts the time and phases of the moon as well as three subsidiary dials with day, alarm and date. The clock was owned by the son of New York City's youngest mayor, Hugh L. Grant, who led the city, beginning at age 31, from 1889-1892. Other Cartier pieces include several tank-style platinum men's wristwatches, a platinum minute repeater pocket watch, and a men's jeweled dress pocket watch.
Also in the sale will be two Patek Philippes Ref. 2526. This sought-after reference was the company's first wristwatch powered by an automatic movement, which ushered in the era of self-winding watches. Made in 1956, Ref. 2526 is in platinum set with diamonds, which is extremely unusual for this model. The second example is in 18k yellow gold with an enamel dial and was also made in 1956.
"These two Patek Philippes are extremely significant. You could say this movement changed the course of horology. The automatic winding was a fantastic innovation and set the groundwork for really almost every technical advancement since," said Patrizzi.
Auction Highlights
• Cartier Complicated "Comet" Table Clock with eight-day duration and Grande Sonnerie chimes in 14k yellow gold with nephrite base and side panels, enamel dial, moon phases and three subsidiary dials with day, date and alarm; completed in 1929. One of two clocks with the most complicated mechanism ever produced by Cartier.
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• Cartier 18k yellow gold, black onyx and enamel miniature desk clock with eight-day duration; circa 1929.
• Cartier platinum men's tank "Louis Cartier" wristwatch with original platinum bracelet; completed in 1929. • Cartier platinum, flat minute-repeater pocket watch with engraved coat of arms; approx. 20 platinum minute-repeating pocket watches were ever made by Cartier; circa 1918. • Cartier keyless, rock crystal gentlemen's platinum dress pocket watch set with sapphires; completed in 1928.• Cartier 18k white gold "Louis Cartier" men's tank wristwatch with matching bracelet; made entirely in Cartier's London workshop; circa 1977.
Auction 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, with three-day preview
The live auction will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at Patrizzi & Co, 595 Madison Avenue, Suite 605. Buyers can bid on site, via phone, written bids, and in real time online via the company's website, www.patrizziauction.com. A public preview will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. During these times, company experts will offer complimentary appraisals and accept consignments for future auctions.
Concurrent three-day New York Silent Sale
In conjunction with the three-day preview of the auction, Patrizzi & Co will conduct a Silent Sale of an additional 100 timepieces, including Rolex, Cartier, Piaget, Omega, Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger LeCoultre. Interested buyers can examine the pieces and place their initial bid at the company's New York showroom. A text message system will notify them of competing bids, allowing them the opportunity to rebid before the silent auction closes the evening of Monday, March 8.
Hong Kong Preview & Silent Sale
Both events will be extended to Hong Kong. The traditional auction will preview in Patrizzi & Co's new office in Hong Kong Feb. 27-March 1 and the Silent Auction will be conducted there during those dates as well.
No Buyer's Commission
Patrizzi & Co does not charge a buyer's commission, representing a 20 to 25 percent savings from the hammer price for the buyer. Unlike most auction houses, this means the final sale price reflects the actual value of the timepiece.
Exhibitions
Hong Kong
27 February - 1 March 2010 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers Hong Kong Ltd
Unit 2608, 26/F
9 Queen's Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
T. 852 2868 2113
F. 852 2868 2001
New York
6-7 March 2010 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
8 March 2010 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers USA
595 Madison Avenue, Suite 605
New York, NY 10022
United States
T. 646 763 88 80
F. 646 214 09 05
Auction
2 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at Patrizzi & Co, 595 Madison Avenue, Suite 605, New York.
Live online at www.patrizziauction.com