HONG KONG.- Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Watch Sale (2 June 2016) will offer more than 100 lots of exceptional and luxurious timepieces, including rare Rolex wristwatches, vintage pieces from Patek Philippe, and stylish modern offerings from independent watchmakers.
Cherie Wong, Bonhams Hong Kong Watch Specialist, said: Bonhams sale offers an inviting variety of beautiful watches, combining classic pieces for the knowledgeable collector, with stylish modern watch designs that we expect will attract bidders from around the world.
Modern Luxury:
Leading the sale is a very fine and rare limited edition platinum manual wind tourbillon calendar wristwatch from A. Lange & Söhne. The model launched in 2000 and was produced in a limited series of just 150 pieces. It is estimated at HK$670,000-800,000.
Further highlights include a Vacheron Constantin 18K gold manual wind tourbillon wristwatch, reference 30050/000J-8, estimated at HK$220,000-320,000; a Patek Philippe, 18K white gold automatic calendar wristwatch with moon phase, reference 5135G, estimated at HK$160,000-220,000, and from Cartier, an 18K white gold and diamond set automatic bracelet watch ballon bleu, reference 3004, estimated at HK$100,000-150,000.
Independent Style:
Bonhams sale features a plethora of innovative, independent watch brands.
MB&F is noted for futuristic designs, coupling its inspiration from science fiction, with the excellence of Swiss watchmaking. Examples from the brand include a fine and rare limited edition 18K rose gold automatic tourbillon wristwatch, reference TR41, No.9, estimated at Hk$350,000-450,000; an 18K rose gold and titanium 3-dimensional automatic calendar wristwatch Horological Machine No.3 Sidewinder, reference 31.RTL.B, No. 32, estimated at HK$300,000-400,000, and an 18K rose gold and titanium automatic jump hour retrograde calendar wristwatch with moon phase Horological Machine No.2, reference 20.DRRT, estimated at HK$180,000-280,000.
Further independent watch brands of note include fellow Swiss brand, Urwerk, with an 18K white gold and titanium automatic wristwatch with day/night indication and moon phase UR-202 WG, No.67, estimated at HK$380,000-480,000; from Rebellion, a fine limited edition titanium manual wind wristwatch with 1000-hour power reserve, reference T1K, No.02/50, estimated at HK$220,000-280,000, and from Speake-Marin, a stainless steel automatic triple time indication wristwatch, reference SMSG0076, estimated at HK$60,000-80,000.
Vintage Classics:
A 1970s military issue Rolex submariner is offered at an estimate of HK$450,000-670,000.
Rolex made the 'MilSub' for the British Military, with this particular watch featuring military numbers engraved on the back, denoting its production in 1976. They were designed with specific enhancements that set them apart from their civilian equivalent, such as the use of the chemical Tritium, which gave a clear luminosity, as seen on the dial.
Elsewhere, a rare 1960s Patek Philippe stainless steel manual wind anti-magnetic wristwatch, reference 3417, estimated at HK$220,000-320,000. These were the first model of anti-magnetic watches ever introduced to the market. The model offered has been in the same family ownership from new.
Also offered is a true vintage classic that was designed for Longines by pioneering aviator, Charles Lindbergh. Having made his famous non-stop solo flight over the North Atlantic in 1927, Lindbergh designed a watch with Longines to be used as a navigational tool for pilots.
Used in conjunction with a sextant and a nautical almanac, the Lindbergh Hour Angle watch was able to help aviators calculate longitude which, when combined with latitude, gave them their exact geographical location. The model offered, an oversized sterling silver manual wind hour angle wristwatch Lindbergh Hour Angle, is estimated at HK$ 180,000-280,000.