Zenith Port Royal Stainless Steel Men's Watch 03.0550.400/22.M550

Press release

 
Antiquorum Auctioneers announces a special spring watch auction at its US headquarters in New York City on March 4 and 5 that will include a collection of over 400 important timepieces from across the globe. Of particular interest for collectors include: a watch that belonged to President John F. Kennedy and later Aristotle Onassis; a pocket watch that belonged to Mahatma Gandhi; and a superb selection of Patek Philippe wristwatches -- including a unique piece made for Henry Graves. Previews for the sale will be held in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and New York City.
 
'Kennedy Onassis' Watch

The Nastrix watch that belonged to President John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the US, and later to Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate, is expected to draw international attention. It is a waterproof 14K gold wristwatch with 57 jewels and original brown alligator strap. The watch was given to JFK in January 1963 by Evangeline and David Bruce, at the time, well-known socialites in Washington D.C. They were great supporters of JFK and instrumental in his election. Mr. Bruce was later appointed by JFK as US Ambassador to Great Britain. The watch is inscribed, "To President John F. Kennedy from the Evangelines, 1963." JFK wore the watch during his daily swims in the White House pool.

Following JFK's assassination, the watch and other personal effects were retrieved from his desk by his secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, at the request of Lyndon B. Johnson. Ms. Lincoln gave the watch to Jacqueline Kennedy. Several years later, on October 20, 1971, Jackie gave the watch as a gift to her second husband, Aristotle Onassis, adding the inscription, FALJ ("For Ari Love Jackie") inscribed between the lugs. This unique collector's watch and letter of authenticity from Evelyn Lincoln will be offered with a pre-auction estimate of $150,000 - $250,000.
   
 
Gandhi Pocket Watch

In addition, Mahatma Gandhi's silver Zenith pocket watch (circa 1910-1915) is expected to attract significant interest. The pocket watch belonged to Gandhi, who later gave it to his grandniece, Abha Gandhi, his assistant of six years, and in whose arms he died. Also offered as part of the same lot are Gandhi's sandals, glasses, bowl, plate, and letters of authenticity.
A beloved leader of India's independence movement and one of history's most widely-recognized and revered civil rights leaders, Gandhi pioneered non-violent civil disobedience and pacifism in response to tyranny.
Estimate: $200,000 - $300,000.
 
Henry Graves Watch

Another highlight of the March sale is the Platinum Minute Repeater that was made for Henry Graves, Jr. in 1927 and sold on August 16, 1928. This will be the first time that this watch has been offered at auction, having been kept in private collection for over 50 years.  
From an affluent banking family, Mr. Graves was one of the most ardent Patek Philippe collectors in the world. His tremendous wealth and passion for watches allowed him to commission Patek Philippe to produce some of their finest and most technologically advanced watches, including the "Supercomplication", which, with 24 complications, made it, at that time, the most complicated watch ever produced. He characteristically had his watches engraved with his family coat of arms and with the epithet, Esse Quam Videri ("To Be Rather than to Seem.")
The 1927 platinum minute repeater is the second-most important Graves wristwatch ever offered at auction, following the Graves tortoise-shaped minute-repeater sold in an Antiquorum sale in 1989. This magnificent timepiece is a very fine and extremely rare cushion-shaped, minute-repeating, platinum wristwatch. Estimate: $250,000-$ 350,000.
   
 
Giuseppe "Joe Bananas" Bonanno Watch

A yellow gold Patek Philippe, Ref. 1516, that belonged to the late Giuseppe " Joe Bananas" Bonanno, Sr. (the "Godfather" of the Bonanno crime family) is also included in Antiquorum's upcoming auction. It is a fine, extremely rare and important, 18K yellow gold wristwatch, which is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from his daughter, Catherine Bonanno. Mr. Bonanno was an original member of the "Commission," founded in 1931, whose purpose was to establish rule by consensus among the crime families. Other members included the leaders of the Five New York Families: Charlie Luciano , Joseph Profaci , Gaetano Gagliano and Vincent Mangano. It is thought that the character of "Vito Corleone" in Mario Puzo's novel, "The Godfather" was inspired by Bonanno. The watch was given to him by Charlie "Lucky" Luciano in 1957 in Sicily. Estimate: $ 5,000-$ 8,000.
   
 
Rolex "Paul Newman"

For the Rolex aficionado, Antiquorum experts are offering a Rolex "Paul Newman" Oyster Cosmograph, Ref. 6263. Produced circa 1973, it is a very fine and rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with an exotic dial and black bezel. The 'Paul Newman' models are much rarer than the standard 'Cosmograph' dials and consequently are much sought after by collectors.
Estimate: $ 60,000 - $ 90,000
  
Exceptional Patek Philippe Wristwatches:

   
 
Another extremely rare and sought after Patek Philippe wristwatch to be featured in the March auction is the Sky Moon Tourbillon, Ref. 5002P, which was made in 2005 and sold on June 10, 2005. The watch is the most complicated wristwatch ever produced by Patek Philippe and its first double-face wristwatch. On the front side, the dial is opaline-white and features an embossed Calatrava cross motif, gold applied Roman numerals, a perpetual calendar with retrograde date hand, and depiction of hours and minutes of mean solar time, day, month, leap year, as well as moon age. The reverse side displays the sidereal time, sky chart, phase and orbit of the moon, with the crown at 8 o'clock (24-hour scale) and with corrections of sky/moon indications. Estimate: $1,000,000 - $1,300,000.

The auction will also feature a Patek Philippe Ref. 5004P. Produced circa 2007, it is an extremely rare and important Platinum and diamond chronograph, water resistant, perpetual calendar wristwatch with a 24-hour display and a precision moon phase mechanism. Complemented with an ingenious rattrapante device, the Ref. 5004 split- second chronograph is the most complicated model in Patek Philippe's line of stopwatches. Estimate: $250,000 - $300,000.

 
 
Another important Patek at auction is the Ref. 5020 White Gold "TV Watch." Sold August 26, 2003, it is a fine and very rare, tonneau-shaped, water-resistant, 18K white gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, leap year and 24-hour indication and moon phases. The watch is accompanied by the original fitted box, certificate and an extra white gold solid case back. Estimate: $130,000 - $180,000.
 
 
   
 
About Antiquorum
Antiquorum is, unquestionably, the world's leading watch auctioneer; Of the 62 watches ever sold publicly by major auction houses above SFR. 1,000,000, Antiquorum claims an impressive 44. In 2002, Antiquorum established the all-time world record price for a wristwatch at auction when it sold a platinum Patek Phililppe World Time Ref. 1415 from 1939 for an astounding CHF 6,603,500 (US$ 4,026,524). This record-breaking price more than doubled the previous world record price for a wrist watch at auction. Another record price for a modern watch was achieved in 2004, the unique white gold Calibre 89, also by Patek Philippe, was sold for SFr. 6,603,500 (US$ 5,002,652).