Paris, 27 May 2022 – Bonhams Paris Fine Watches sale (24 May) was the most successful staged by the department to date, achieving a total of €1,148,819 with an impressive sell-through rate of 83% and many timepieces exceeding their pre-sale estimates.
The auction was also the largest to date – twice the size of the Bonhams Watches Paris’ previous sale at the Grand Palais in February – offering 385 lots. The sale presented an extraordinary variety of timepieces from historical pocket watches to contemporary wristwatches, the majority having original owner/family provenance, representing the classic names of horology such as Audemars Piguet, Omega, Patek Philippe and Rolex.
Jonathan Darracott, Bonhams Global Head of Watches, said: “This was our sixth sale in Paris – a new market for us – and the results show that the department here is going from strength to strength.”
Among the strong performers were several lots surpassing their top estimates including a rare 1984 Rolex stainless steel Cosmograph ‘Daytona’, reference 6263 which sold for €57,075, against a €45,000 pre-sale top estimate. A second Daytona from the 1980s, a 1988 edition, doubled its own estimate to make €24,225.
Other timepieces to exceed their pre-sale estimates include a Patek Philippe Aquanaut, Ref: 5065A-001, purchased 1st September 2006, which achieved €53,295. Inspired in design by the brand’s Nautilus model, the demand for the Aquanaut, Patek Philippe’s first watch to be released with a rubber strap, is also increasing.
Other highlights included:
- Cartier Pendulette. A mid-20th century brass and walnut burl triple calendar desk clock with moon phase indication sold for €14,662.50.
- Vacheron Constantin. An 18K rose gold manual wind wristwatch Model: Historiques American 1921 sold for €24,225
- Patek Philippe. An 18K gold automatic calendar wristwatch with moon phase and power reserve, Calatrava, circa 2000 sold for €20,400
- Piaget. A fine 18K white gold and diamond set manual wind bracelet watch with lapis lazuli dial, 9857 A6, Circa 1975, sold for €19,125
Jonathan Darracott added: “We observed a 20% increase in the number of registrations compared to our February sale at the Grand Palais and more than 50 countries were represented by bidders actively participating in this auction.”
We look forward to expanding further in this new and buoyant European market.”
The next sale to be hosted by Bonhams Paris Watches is scheduled for 5 October. Meanwhile, the UK team has just launched the catalogue for the Fine Watches Sale on 15 June at Bonhams New Bond Street which is live here: Bonhams : Fine Watches.
