On January 26 in Hong Kong, the superb Patek Philippe ref 5074 will be auctioned among a collection of the finest offerings from the Swiss brand and other top watchmakers.

The platinum example was released four years after ref 5074 first appeared

A platinum example of one of the most popular designs from Patek Philippe this century, the watch is estimated to sell in the region of $490,000-619,000. It is considered the successor to Patek Philippe's famed ref 3974.

The world record for a Patek Philippe ref 3974 was set in 2009, when a platinum example sold for $1.2m with the same auction house as the present sale.

The two watches share the same mechanism, with the exception of the gong. In reference 5074, the "cathedral" gong goes twice around the watch to give a clearer and louder sound.

Reference 5074 was first launched in 2002, and was only available in yellow gold with the option of a silver or black dial. A pink gold version was then released at the 2005 Baselworld watch fair with the platinum variety following at the 2009 fair.

The example at auction was made in 2010 and features a perpetual calendar, 24 hour subsidiary dial and Moon phases. It will be sold complete with a winding box, fitted box and its certificate of origin.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the few brands that can compete with auction prices seen by Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe dominates the sale, yet the third highest estimate of the auction is held by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 1. Selling with a high estimate of $387,000, this platinum example was made in a limited edition of 75 and is remarkably complicated, featuring a perpetual calendar, two retrograde dates, equation of time and leap year indication.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fine Longines Olympic Series watch for sale. For more of the latest on watch collecting and investment, sign up to our free weekly newsletter.