The third part in this series is titled “The Artistry of Complications.”
Christie’s Hong Kong is announcing the third part of its Champion Collection journey with Part III: The Artistry of Complications. This single owner live sale will be held on May 24.
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Highlights include the Patek Philippe Ref. 5002 along with several references with special-colored dials. Other examples of Haute Horlogerie will be presented from Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Greubel Forsey, and Audemars Piguet.
On the same day, the auction house will be holding a second live event, The Important Watches Sale, which will feature selected pieces from The Kairos Collection.
The selection presented under the Important Watches comprises 30 lots, including the Grandes Complications Ref. 5951P-012 and Ref. 5078R-001. Among the other most extraordinary timepieces to be presented during this sale: a Patek Philippe Ref. 605HU and a Ref. 1415J, two Lange & Söhne 20th Anniversary Sets, a collection of 10 stunning timepieces by F.P. Journe, as well as limited editions by Maximilian Büsser & Friends LM.
Alexandre Bigler, vice president & head of watches Christie’s Asia Pacific says that they are privileged to bring these two collections across two live sales.
“Part III of The Champion Collection is incredibly exciting and unique in including models that have never been seen before at auction, and in some cases, their existence was virtually unknown to collectors,” he says. “As for the 30 lots consisting of Part II of The Kairos Collection, each watch in the collection is in fantastic condition. Rarely do collections arise with such an extreme focus on contemporary timepieces and pristine condition.”
The champion collection
Comprising almost 450 significant timepieces by all the major watch brands, this collection was formed over nearly 20 years by a prominent private collector. The marques represented in The Champion Collection include Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Panerai, IWC and Vacheron Constantin.
Christie’s Hong Kong, working closely with the collector, curated the vast array of exceptional timepieces into six thematically distinct sales over a period of 12 months.
The cycle was off to a flying start last November with The Champion Collection, Part I achieving $15.4 million. Part II: Sport Elegance opened the 2022 season in Hong Kong with 120 lots that realized a total of $3.3 million. The upcoming Part III: The Artistry of Complications will bookend the first half of the year, with 73 lots and a total low estimate set at $10.1 million.
The epic watch sale series will continue to unfold in the second half of 2022, with The Champion Collection, Part IV: The Panerai Encyclopedia-Chapter I comprising 85 Panerai timepieces, and The Champion Collection, Part V: The Panerai Encyclopedia-Final Chapter with a further 83 highly sought-after Panerais coming to auction online.
Concluding the year will be a single owner live sale presenting the series finale, The Champion Collection, Part VI: The Finest Watchmaking, led by 83 timepieces, among which stunning Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin enamel watches.
Banner: Lot 2265, Patek Philippe Ref. 5004A, a stainless steel perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, 24 hour and leap year indication. Possibly 60 pieces made, 9 known and fresh to the market. This example is from circa 2012.
