MONACO.- Over 3 days, under the gavel of François Tajan, Artcurial sold more than 900 lots of Jewellery, Collectible Watches, Vintage Hermès handbags and Collectible Automobiles.

· This week a total of 10,379,554€ / $11,313,713 was fetched at auction. Buyers from across 32 countries

· One third of first time bidders for the sales - Within the clocks and vintage Hermès sectors, new clients made up 43% and 35% respectively of the total number of buyers

“Exceeding 10 million Euros in this 2015 session positions us as the incontestable leader of auction sales on the Côte d'Azur. This gives us comfort in our strategy to open a permanent office and to be present twice a year in Monaco. We owe a great deal of our success to our ability to seduce an international clientele. Russian, Chinese and Indian buyers contributed many of the important bids recorded this week,” emphasised François Tajan, co-president of Artcurial.

This success confirms the relevance of choosing Monaco as an international location for the sale and thenew global base for luxurious collectible items.

To celebrate Artcurial’s 10 year presence in Monte-Carlo in style, a second Winter session will be added to the sales calendar in January 2016. Louise Gréther, has been appointed as the new director of ‘Artcurial SAM’ to continue to develop the collector base in the Monaco locality.

Fine Jewellery:
The sector dedicated to jewellery remains the star event of this week’s auction sales. Over two days, 21 and 22 July, the total fetched was 7,085,044€ / $7,722,698, with 80% of lots sold:

• Ring by Stoess, decorated with a Cachemire “Royal Blue” 22.8 caret sapphire, sold for 931,800€/$1,015,662

• “Light Pink” diamond (lot 914) fetched, fees included, 411,000€ / $447,990 (estimate: 230,000-250,000€) both confirm the enthusiasm of buyers for coloured precious stones.

• The Art Déco period proved popular. A Raymond Templier transformable double clip made with platinum and white gold set with diamonds, representing a stylised knot (lot 507) was subsequently sold for 83,600€ / $91,124 (estimate 30,000 – 40,000€)

• Dating from the ‘60s, a sumptuous sapphire, diamond and emerald necklace from the house of Marchak (lot 906) made thrice its estimate, fetching 98,500€ / $107,365.

“Monaco has proven once again to be a magical setting for our jewellery sales, thanks to a quality, private clientele. This session comes to a close with very positive statistics and with wonderful results for diamonds and jewellery of the ‘70s. The trio of Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Cartier holds strong values, notably among an Asian and Russian clientele,” celebrates Julie Valade, Director of the Jewellery department of Artcurial.

Fine Watches:
The Watches sale of 20 and 21 July fetched a total of 1,866,081€ / $2,034,028 (with 56% of lots sold), and was bustling with a large number of new buyers (43%) and international collectors.

“The results obtained for our prestigious lots bears witness to the ever-increasing interest for Rolex and Patek Philippe models, which remain timeless collectible items in watchmaking. The Cartier pieces were also highly coveted, with a wonderful outcome for the ‘30s pieces,” explains Marie Sanna, head of Collectible Watches at Artcurial.

• The highly anticipated “Gentleman’s Collection,” which reunited 7 Rolex models, delivered on expectation.

• A “Paul Newman” Daytona from 1968 (lot 150) made 82,000€ / $94,176, fees included, making it the most expensive watch of the sale.

• Maison Cartier this year saw a rare platinum “Duoplan Calibre” woman’s bracelet from 1930 (lot 176) achieve 36,400€ / $36,400 (estimate: 28,000 – 30,000€),

• Two platinum and white gold “Tank” models from 1930 (lots 168 and 169) were sold for a respective 31,200€ / $34,008 and 53,900€ / $58,751, far exceeding their estimates.

• A rare “Mysterious Prism” Cartier pocket-watch from 1937 (lot 354, fetched 32,500€ / $35,425 (estimate: 3,000-5,000€).

• Writing equipment, put forward by ‘Artcurial en Principauté’ was very well received. A black urushi lacquer “Namiki Giant Black” Dunhill pen, dating from the 1930s (lot 394) was snapped up for 28,600€ / $31,174.

Hermès Vintage:
Attended by fashionistas from all over the world, the Vintage Hermès sale once again made good on its promises. On Wednesday 22 July, the items from the major fashion label made a total 730,990€ / $796,779, with 75% of lots sold. International buyers, 35% of whom were new clients, were still in their greatest numbers in the auction room, on the internet and over the telephone.

The sale was marked by some noteworthy prices:

• A crocodile Birkin (lot 1009) was sold for 39,000€ / $42,510, including fees (estimate: 30,000-35,000€),

• An original “Teddy Plush” sheepskin Kelly (lot 1028) obtained 36,400€ / $39,676 (estimate: 18,000-20,000€).

• Other standout pieces from this sale were the “mini” models, whose bids raised at the sight of an ostrich, tricolour “Mini Kelly” (lot 1049), which sold for 26,000€ / $28,340 – 3 times its estimate.

“The incontestable success of the Kelly and Birkin pieces bears witness to buyers’ interest in luxury French brands. A pioneer in this speciality, Artcurial is defined by the quality of the pieces on offer, not only by the classics but also by original or unique pieces, such as the exceptional “Kelly” model, customised by street artist Cope 2 (lot 1034),” explains Eva-Yoko Gault, Vintage Hermès specialist for Artcurial.

Collectible Automobiles:
On Monday 20 July, the collection of 13 automobiles fetched a total 697,439€ / $760,208, more than twice the estimated figure, with 100% of lots sold. International collectors, who represented 80% of buyers, made sure not to miss out.

Under Matthieu Lamoure, Director of the Collectible Automobiles department of Artcurial, bids soared from the offset.

• Lot n°1, a 1989 Aston Martin Lagonda was snapped up for 157,300€ / $171,457, fees included, after a battle, thus selling for triple its estimate

Two prestigious limousines, both bought new for the travels and European tours of opera singer Maria Callas, made 106,100€ / $115,649 (lot 3), with the second making 119,200€ / $129,928 (lot 7), exceeding its estimate.

Matthieu Lamoure stated: “Bids were on a par with the immense talent of the Prima Donna. A lively sale room, numerous telephones and white gloves…Monaco is an exceptional gambling destination!”

The two Mercedes-Benz 600 limousines belonging to Maria Calls in front of the Monte-Carlo Casino, sold respectively for 106,100€ / $114,588 (lot 3) and 119,200€ / $128,736 (lot 7) (Each estimated: 60,000-100,000€ / $67,500-112,000).