HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale 2016 will take place on 6 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Leading the sale is a complete set of 12 Vacheron Constantin wristwatches from the ‘Métiers d’Art – Les Masques’ Collection making its debut on auction floor, each featuring an engraved tribal mask from the Barbier Muller Museum in Geneva. They will be complemented by a complicated minute repeating tourbillon watch Ref. 3939H and a diamond-set sports watch Ref. 5724R offered with a matching dress set, both from Patek Philippe, as well as original timepieces by independent watchmakers. The sale will offer more than 340 lots with a total estimate of HK$64 - 95 million / US$8.2 - 12 million.

Sharon Chan, Head of Watches, Sotheby’s Asia, said, “To stay on top of the competitive global watch market, Sotheby’s international team of watch specialists have put together a meticulous selection of timepieces for the Important Watches Hong Kong Sale in April, including vintage Patek Philippe and Rolex watches, spectacular enamelled pieces as well as innovative creations by independent watchmakers. Spanning vintage, modern and contemporary timepieces, the selection offered this season is attractively estimated, including extremely rare pieces appearing in auction for the very first time, such as Vacheron Constantin’s ‘Les Masques’ Collection.”

HIGHLIGHTS
Vacheron Constantin, an Impressive Set of Twelve Automatic Wristwatches with Day, Date and Engraved Miniature Mask Dial, Métiers d’Art – Les Masques, made in 2007 – 2009; lot 2297 Est. HK$7.8 – 12 million / US$1 – 1.55 million
Sotheby’s will offer the first-ever complete Vacheron Constantin ‘Les Masques’ collection in auction history. Launched in April 2007, ‘Les Masques’ from Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art collection is the result of the brand’s partnership with Geneva’s Barbier-Muller Museum, home to one of the world’s most important private collections of primitive arts. Twelve tribal masks from the Museum have been recreated in a limited edition of 25 pieces each. Only 300 pieces were produced over a period of three years.

The maison took on an enormous challenge to recreate on gold plates the texture of wood, stone and other materials used in the original masks. The basic form of each mask was created by laser engraving, with delicate features then added by engravers using burins. To display the breathtaking beauty of the masks, the time and date were displayed with rotating discs at the four corners instead of hands, thus allowing the masks to nestle majestically at the centre of the dial without interfering with the functionality of the watch. To perfectly complement the expressions of the masks, they are all encircled by poems written by the French writer Michel Butor. The poems are applied to the sapphire crystal dial by metal evaporation discretely and can only be seen when light shines upon the dial at certain angles.

Vacheron Constantin, a Fine and Magnificent White Gold and Diamond-Set Tonneau-Form Tourbillon Wristwatch, Ref 30682 Malte Regulator Tourbillon, circa 2009; lot 2272 Est. HK$2.4 – 3.6 million / US$310,000 – 460,000
With its groundbreaking tonneau shape, Vacheron Constantin’s Malte Collection debuted in 1912 represented a dramatic break from the tradition of round dials in pocket watches. The Malte Regulator Tourbillon is embellished with 565 baguette-cut diamonds weighing approximately 18.98 carats, all boasting exceptional colour grades (F/G) and the highest standards of clarity (IF/VVS), custom-cut and invisibly set with extreme precision. The collection also offers a manual-winding tourbillon movement and a highly readable hours, minutes and seconds regulator display which is designed, developed and produced by the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture, both highly appreciated by watch enthusiasts.

Patek Philippe, a Rare and Important Platinum Minute Repeating Tourbillon Wristwatch with Enamel Dial and Breguet Numerals, Ref 3939H made in 1993; lot 2170; Est. HK$2.1 – 2.8 million / US$270,000 – 360,000
Launched in 1993 and discontinued in 2011, the Ref 3939 incorporates two of the most coveted complications: minute repeater and tourbillon. The unparalleled resonance and exquisite tone of the minute repeating chime will undoubtedly appeal to the most discerning collector. Furthermore, the gravity-defying tourbillon is concealed at the back to protect it from exposure to ultraviolet light or daylight, which compromises its long-term accuracy and longevity. Despite the contemporary trend for larger dials, the Ref 3939 features an enamel dial with Breguet numerals measuring 33 mm—a perfect modern example of Patek Philippe’s timeless, sophisticated technical achievement.

Patek Philippe, an Extremely Rare and Exquisite Pink Gold and Diamond-Set Automatic Wristwatch with Moon-Phases, Power Reserve Indication and Matching Dress Set, Ref 5724R-001, circa 2014; lot 2171 Est. HK$1.5 – 2 million / US$190,000 – 260,000
For men, wristwatches have long been one of the most distinctive means of showcasing personal style. Debuted in 2008 at the Basel fair in Switzerland, Ref 5724R Nautilus dazzled the crowd with its luxurious-yet-sporty look and feel. Set with 44 baguette-cut diamonds weighing approximately 7.4 carats, this timepiece preserved its iconic design by Gérald Genta with additional functions such as power reserve and date display equipped. The extravagant watch comes complete with an exclusive matching dress set including a money clip, keychain and a pair of cufflinks, elevating the expression ‘suit up’ to a whole new level.

Richard Mille, a Rare and Extremely Light Weighted Limited Edition Carbon Composite Tonneau-Form Skeletonized Tourbillon Wristwatch, RM 027 Rafael Nadal, circa 2011; lot 2295 Est. HK$2.8 – 3.5 million / US$360,000 – 450,000
A fascinating combination of technology, performance and practical aspects in a wristwatch, RM027 is hailed as one of the world’s lightest watches ever constructed. The case is made of carbon-based composite and the base-plate of titanium, maximising the watch’s flexibility and shock resistance. The movement base-plate is made of Titanium and LITAL® alloy, making it one of the most light-weight mechanical tourbillon wristwatches, with a movement weight of only 3.83 grams. Launched in a limited edition of 50 pieces RM 027 soon became one of the most iconic and important sports watches ever made in the 21st century.

Harry Winston and Vianney Halter, an Unusual and Rare Limited Edition Platinum Wristwatch with Digital Time Display, Hours and Date Opus 3 No 14/25, circa 2011; lot 2294; Est. HK$950,000 – HK$1.5 million / US$120,000 – 190,000
Since the debut of the Opus series in 2001, Harry Winston has been collaborating with various independent watchmakers, and become highly regarded as an avant-garde and adventurous watch manufacturer. Opus 3 is the brain child of the brand and Vianney Halter, an independent French watchmaker renowned for his unorthodox designs. The aesthetics of Opus 3 lies in its retro-futuristic aura and intriguing time display method. Fascinated by dashboard counters and other types of measuring instrument since young, Vianny created Opus 3 as the first mechanical wristwatch with a digital time display, which took the brand seven long years to develop after its initial announcement in 2003. Limited to 25 pieces only in platinum, Opus 3 marks the epitome of Harry Winston’s perseverance in innovation.