Antiquorum warms up to open July 2022 Monaco auction in pole position! The Monte Carlo rock sets high standards when it comes to performances and records, and Antiquorum has accepted the challenge with a promising auction selection of 373 lots including the most sought-after vintage and modern timepieces.

It’s at the Yacht Club de Monaco, located on the main port of the Principality, Quai Louis II, that Antiquorum auctioneers will unfold three chapters over a historical eight-hour journey. Indeed, the majority of the lots were sourced from three main collections in Switzerland, Monaco and Middle East.

In addition to some extremely desirable watches from Patek Philippe, Rolex and Audemars Piguet, the auction will feature some ground-breaking and extremely exclusive Richard Mille and FP Journe references.

As per a recent study1, Richard Mille achieved the second highest average selling price in 2021 at auction just after Patek Philippe. No wonder why the last LOT 373 Richard Mille Skull Tourbillon Vanitas Vanitatum REF. RM 52-01, one-minute tourbillon regulator, a unique piece, in smoked brown sapphire case concluding the auction will be under the spotlight. The estimate has not been officially disclosed by the auction house.

Joining the pantheon of extremely unique rarities is LOT 260, a Richard Mille RM-053 AM TI one-minute tourbillon regulator with armored case in titanium, which was designed to be the brand’s version of a “driver’s watch”, with two raised arcs leading to two viewing windows, a red inner bezel and movement tilted 30° with a visible one-minute tourbillon regulator. This unique piece is estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 1,000,000 – 2,000,000.

Another rarity, LOT 370, is the 38mm F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Resonance in platinum, a metal in which only 10 examples were made in, with yellow dial and sub-dials in silver. The first prototype of the Souscription Resonance Number “000” was sold at the Antiquorum Auction titled “The Longitude at the Eve of the Third Millenary” in October 1999. The auction house is honored to present this time another historical example, for the first time at auction, with an estimated of EUR | USD | CHF 300,000 – 500,000.

At the moment one of the most en vogue model for Patek Philippe is the Nautilus, and among the seven references featured in this auction, the experts highlight LOT 241, a model in platinum with blue dial, date and center second with original platinum bracelet, original certificate and box Ref. 3800/001. Also, LOT 347 “the Jumbo” Ref. 3700/1 in 18K yellow gold, offered with its a full set including matching cufflinks, the ultimate must-have for a gentleman. Both lots are estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 200,000 – 400,000.

Antiquorum is also thrilled to put up for auction a rare bird with LOT 332, a Patek Philippe Ref. 565 Calatrava in stainless steel double signed: BLACK STARR & GORHAM. In addition to its exotic strap but also unusual painted radium Arabic numeral and case engraved with “As Time Goes By”; this timekeeper was retailed by an American monument: Starr & Gorham, the oldest continuously operating jewelry firm in the United States and was the first retailer on Fifth Avenue in New York. It is so iconic, even Marylin Monroe immortalized the name in the song “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, along with Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Harry Winston. This legendary lot is estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 50,000 – 80,000.

With this year being its 50th anniversary, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oaks are all the rage on the market today, and Antiquorum is excited to present a very interesting selection including LOT 229 Ref. 5402 “Jumbo” B series in stainless steel. No doubt that its “caramel” tapisserie dial won’t leave the brand afficionados indifferent, the piece is estimated EUR | USD | CHF 70,000 – 100,000. Another seductive model partly because of its serial number is LOT 238 Ref. 25829PT Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Skeleton, otherwise known as “The 007”. The timepiece’s impressive watchmaking performance combined with outstanding finishings, and desirable serial number is for sure a reason to bid, estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 200,000 – 400,000.

Last but not least, Antiquorum auctions a fine selection of Rolex watches. Among them is a precious Rolex Ref. 9630 King Midas LOT 308, named after the mythological King Midas, gifted with the extraordinary ability to change everything he would touch into gold. The watch has above all the specificity of having once belonged to René-Paul Jeanneret, Hans Wilsdorf’s right-hand man, Head of Design and Development from 1948 to 1978 at Rolex. He is at the initiative of the most iconic references developed during these 30 years: Submariners, GMTs, Explorers, Daytonas and Sea-Dwellers. This lot is estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 30,000 – 50,000.

Fans of the Crown will surely be pleased to find other gems in this auction, such as LOT 132, a Ref. 6263 Oyster Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Panda in stainless steel with a tonneau- shaped case. The model, with takes its name from the brand’s historic run with the famous American car circuit “Daytona”, is estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 300,000 – 500,000. Another Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newmanm, this time in 18K yellow gold, is the extremely rare and fine LOT 256, a Ref. 6264, Chronograph with exotic dial, estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 700,000 – 1,200,000.

From the track we go to the seas with the crown’s legendary Sea-Dweller—another design helmed by Jeanneret—with LOT 211, a Ref. 16600t Sea-Dweller “Polizia di Stato” in stainless steel, featuring a black dial and date, and a helium escapement valve for avid divers (Estimation: EUR | USD | CHF 100,000 – 150,000).

For fans of the “Padellone” (or “frying pan” in Italian), they will find joy in LOT 249, a rare Ref. 8171 in 18K yellow gold with day, date, month and moon phase indications. Produced only in a few examples between the years 1949 and 1952 (approximately 1,000 examples in pink or yellow gold), this is one of the most sought-after references and is estimated at EUR | USD | CHF 130,000 – 230,000.

Topping off a delectable selection of fine Rolex pieces is LOT 371, a rare Oyster Cosmograph Ref. 6265, a chronograph with minute and hour counters and a black dial featuring Oman Or Khanjar’s emblem, housed in an 18K yellow gold case. The chronograph movement, activated by the two round-shaped screwed push-pieces on the case, can be viewed in images thanks to its screwdown caseback.