Howard Hughes ‘Patek Philippe’ up for auction!

June 8, 2010

A 1949 Patek Philippe chronograph that belonged to Howard Hughes, the dashing movie mogul portrayed by Leo DiCaprio in The Aviator (one of the best movies of all time!), is being offered in Christie’s’ Important Watches Featuring the Leo Collection sale in New York on June 16.

The gold wristwatch, Ref. 1463, with breguet numerals is estimated at $150,000 – $200,000. In the 1960s the increasingly-paranoid Hughes gifted the watch to a private detective who carried out a number of surveillance assignments for him, and it comes accompanied by a note from Hughes to that effect.

Also featured in the sale is Roy Rogers’ Rolex, a stainless steel triple calendar chronograph Ref. 6036, manufactured circa 1952 and estimated at $40,000-$60,000, consigned from the estate of the so-called “King of Cowboys”; and a rare and extremely important platinum Patek Philippe Ref. 5016, estimated at $350,000 – $500,000

Bling Bloaw

November 20, 2009

Produced in London, the Digit Watch takes existing mechanical watch movements from major luxury watch brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Breitling, Blancpain, and others (buyer can choose), and places them inside of an 18k white gold ring with an Aquamarine jewel face, decorated with 142 diamonds. The ring has a watch face on it, and a crown for winding and setting the movement.

It’s designed for both men & women.

Bling Breaking World Records

November 19, 2009

A rare 2.52 carat vivid green diamond sold for $3.08 million. It set a new world-record price per carat for a green diamond at auction. Swiss jeweler Chatila paid $2.52 million for a 3.17-carat fancy intense blue diamond which set a new world-record price per carat for an intense blue diamond sold at auction. Chatila also paid $3.13 million for a 74.8-carat fancy vivid-yellow diamond ring. The sale brought in $36.68 million putting it safely above the pre-sale low estimate of $29.5 million. A total of 79 percent of the lots up for sale sold. Auction was called Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale in Geneva this week

Patek Philippe Pocket Watch sets world record at $5M

A Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calibre 89 pocket watch, the world’s most complex timepiece, just sold for a world record price of $5.068 million at Antiquorum’s 35th Anniversary Sale in Geneva.

“It indicates that the market for the most complicated and important watches in the world remains exceptionally strong,” notes Antiquorum Chairman Robert Maron. With a staggering 33 complications, the watch weighs nearly 2.5 lbs. and has an 18k yellow gold case.

It was made to honor the 150th anniversary of the famed Swiss watchmaker.

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