Watchmaking masterpieces: SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2009 – MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL, GENEVA

Patrizzi & Co’s Geneva auction of very unusual and rare works of horological art will take place on 25 October 2009. The pieces in the sale are all very unusual and several are destined to attract the attention of collectors including some fabulous Patek Philippe pocket watches and wristwatches and three exceptional Cartier pieces – two chinoiseries clocks and a very rare and unusual Cartier Barometer made in 1930 in brass, silver, rock crystal, crystal, black and red lacquer and coral. This rare barometer is of dodecagonal shape and besides indicating the weather conditions, it also indicates atmospheric pressure relative to sea-level.

Among the pieces guaranteed to be much sought after are several prize winning Patek Philippe pocket watches and exceptional Patek Philippe Ref 1463 wristwatches. The Cartier chinoiseries pieces in the auction are superb examples of the Art Deco chinoiseries period. Chinese influence grew in Europe in the early 1900s when performances such as the opera Madame Butterfly first introduced the Chinese style and culture to Europe and created a new trend in high society, spurring the imagination of interior, textile and jewelry designers such as Cartier.

Louis Cartier systematically collected pieces of Chinese antiquity from the leading antique dealers of the time and his work reflected various themes from Chinese life and traditions while also incorporating pieces of actual material of Chinese origin such as enamel, jade, ivory, Chinese lacquer and mother-of-pearl marqueterie inlays. The Cartier carriage clock in this auction features an antique jade Fô-Dog (mythological lion sometimes called the lion of Buddha) sitting atop the clock keeping it safe from danger and the Cartier table clock incorporates typically Louis Cartier elements from Chinese antiquity such as the rows of coral lacquered cylinders in red (which is a lucky color in china), onyx, black lacquer, and mother-of-pearl.

Some of the magnificent wristwatches that will be offered during the auction:

A magnificent Patek Philippe, 18K yellow gold, keyless, “Extra” pocket chronometer pocket watch with one minute Tourbillon regulator, adjusted by the famous master adjuster François Modoux. To truly appreciate this watch you must look at its details, those not seen by the naked eye. It won the first prize at the 1929 Geneva Observatory, and to do this it had to be exceptional. Patek Philippe did not, as a rule, sell their Observatory Contest winning tourbillions. Out of roughly 100 tourbillons made by the company, approximately only a dozen were ever sold so this piece is very special.

(The estimation is CHF 250,000 – 300,000)

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A fabulous one owner 1951 Patek Philippe chronograph with round button chronograph, register and tachometer in rose gold with a rose gold dial Ref 1463 which is in superb condition and is being put to auction by the original client.

(Patek Philippe Chronograph Ref 1463, the estimation is CHF 240.000 – 260.000)

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Two other watches in the Patek Philippe Ref 1463 series, a series that is much sought after and appreciated by collectors around the world, are also in this sale – one watch is in stainless steel and has Breguet numerals (pictured), and the other is in yellow gold.

(Patek Philippe Ref 1463, The estimation for each is CHF 170,000 – 220,000)

PREVIEW EXHIBITIONS

HONG KONG
(by appointment)

17 – 18 October 2009
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
15 Queen’s Road Central,
The Landmark, Central, Hong Kong
T: +852 2132 0188
e-mail: hongkong@patrizziauction.com

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GENEVA
22 – 24 October 2009, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
25 October 2009, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.