Sotheby’s Sells Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak For $2.1-million; Double-Signed Patek/Tiffany Pieces Up Next

Gerald Genta, often called the Picasso of watches, famously designed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. His private Royal Oak, a custom-made model of the mannequin, made in 1978, is the one recognized metal ref. 5402 with a gold bezel, bought at a Sotheby’s watch public sale in Geneva yesterday for CHF 2,170,000 (about $122,676) over an estimate of 303,400-$606,800. The sale, which incorporates a number of different essential Royal Oak fashions and a number of other classic fashions of the Patek Philippe Nautilus, one other watch famously designed by Genta, continues immediately.

The highest two heaps in Sotheby’s June sale in New York Metropolis embrace a 1999 F.P. Journe Tourbillon Remontoir d’Egalite, estimated at $500,000-$1million, and a 1970 Rolex ref. 6241 Paul Newman Daytona John Participant Particular, estimated at $600,000-$1.2 million. The F.P. Journe as a platinum tourbillon with fixed pressure Remontoire and energy reserve indicator. This is likely one of the uncommon first era sequence of the watch, with a brass motion and the remontoire system uncovered by way of an aperture on the dial. Subsequent fashions had been closed. Journe was the primary use a remontoire on a wristwatch.

The John Participant Particular is so-called due to its resemblance to the livery of the John Participant Particular sponsored Group Lotus automobiles of the Seventies. The black dial is contrasted by yellow gold subdials, with font and magnificence within the Paul-Newman model and a yellow gold case and bracelet. This one, being consigned by its unique proprietor, is in excellent situation. Solely about 3,000 JPS Paul Newman Daytonas had been ever made.

Different highlights embrace three excellent double-signed Patek Philippe/Tiffany & Co items: a ref. 5270 platinum perpetual calendar with a salmon dial ($200,000-$300,000); a Patek Philippe ref. 1463 yellow gold chronograph made circa 1950, nicknamed the “Tasti Tondi” by Italian collectors for its spherical chrono pushers ($120,000-$220,000); and a ref. 5980 Nautilus pink gold chronograph made circa 2016 ($150,000-$250,000).

There’s additionally a ravishing seed pearl and diamond Cartier bracelet watch made circa 1925 – a forerunner of Artwork Deco styling, with each seed pearl intact ($20,000-$40,000). The Sotheby’s Essential Watches stay sale in New York takes place June 15.