Christie’s To Auction The Most Expensive Timepiece Ever In The Americas

Christie’s has officially announced the “Important Watches” live auction at Christie’s Rockefeller Center on June 10, 2024. This highly anticipated event will feature a curated selection of rare and exceptional wristwatches, highlighting the rich heritage and evolution of watchmaking.

The centerpiece of the auction is the Richard Mille Limited Edition RM56-02 AO Tourbillon Sapphire, estimated at $3,000,000-4,000,000. This remarkable timepiece is the most expensive watch ever offered at Christie’s New York. Renowned for its transparency and innovative use of materials, the RM56-02 AO Tourbillon Sapphire showcases a skeletonized design with a titanium cable-suspended movement and a cable tension indicator, epitomizing Richard Mille’s mastery in micro-engineering and avant-garde design.

Another highlight is the Rolex ‘Prototype Pre-Explorer’ Model Ref. 6098, worn by Colonel Patrick Douglas Baird during the 1953 Swiss Canadian Baffin Island Arctic Expedition. Estimated at $20,000-40,000, this historic watch was presented to Colonel Baird by the Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research and is a significant piece for vintage Rolex collectors.

Additionally, the auction will feature a rare Rolex ‘Stelline’ Ref. 6062, estimated at $500,000-1,000,000. This 18k gold automatic wristwatch with moon phases and luminous star hour markers is offered at auction for the first time and is in exceptional condition.

Patek Philippe enthusiasts will be captivated by the Calatrava ‘Duo’ Model Ref. 2526, estimated at $25,000-45,000. This 18k gold automatic wristwatch, featuring a customized ‘Duo’ dial commissioned by Tiffany & Co. for President Lyndon B. Johnson, is a piece of historical significance.

Another notable Patek Philippe offering is the 18K Gold Two-Tone ‘Tasti Tondi’ Ref. 1463, estimated at $100,000-200,000. This rare chronograph wristwatch is celebrated for its two-tone dial and tachymeter scale, showcasing Patek Philippe’s excellence in design and functionality.

Rounding out the sale is the striking Richard Mille Limited Edition RM52-01 CA-FQ Tourbillon Skull Model, estimated at $750,000-1,000,000. This lightweight, skeletonized tourbillon wristwatch with a diamond-set skull motif exemplifies Richard Mille’s unique aesthetic and technical prowess.

Select watches from the auction will be on a global tour, with stops in Geneva from May 10 to 12 and Hong Kong from May 24 to 26, before returning to New York for viewings during Christie’s Luxury Week from June 6 to 10.

“We are particularly enthusiastic about offering the Limited-Edition Richard Mille RM56-02 AO Tourbillon Sapphire, a remarkable achievement in both pioneering materials and micro-engineering. Collectors have the opportunity to acquire not just watches, but pieces of horological innovation that remain sources of inspiration today,” notes Rebecca Ross, Head of Sale at Christie’s New York.