NEW YORK, NY.- Christie's presents Important Watches, a live auction taking place on December 9 in New York City. The sale will present rare and exceptional timepieces spanning vintage icons and contemporary masterpieces. Highlights include outstanding private collections and a curated selection of watches from the world's most renowned houses—Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Audemars Piguet—as well as contemporary independent makers such as Greubel Forsey.

Highlights from the sale include a silver Grande and Petite Sonnerie tourbillon “hump-back” carriage clock by Nicole Nielsen for Charles Frodsham & Co., offered from the Edlis | Neeson Collection (Estimate: $200,000–400,000).

Other highlights include:

• Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 in yellow gold, a highly important and only known version retailed by Serpico y Laino and fitted with a first-series black enamel dial with luminous hour markers and hands (Estimate: $250,000-450,000).

• Patek Philippe Ref. 652/283 “The Scout” (Estimate: $100,000-200,000), an extremely rare pocket watch fresh to market and consigned by the family of the original owner. Created for the 1995 Legendary Watches of Patek Philippe exhibition, the watch features a masterwork enamel miniature after C.M. Russell's 1907 painting, executed by G. Menni—one of the last great enamellists of his era.

• MB&F Horological Machine No. 6 Sapphire Vision (HM6-SV) in platinum and sapphire crystal (Estimate: $150,000–350,000), limited to just 10 examples, this Horological Machine redefines the concept of watchmaking and highlights the creative genius of Independent Watchmaking today.

• A trio of Rolex Daytona “Beach” watches, reference 116589, in 18K white gold with baguette diamond bezels and vibrant turquoise or mother-of-pearl dials. Beloved by collectors, the “Beach” models are celebrated for their bold colors and playful aesthetics.

Concurrent sales will continue with Watches Online, open through December 17th