Six-figure Patek Philippe and Ulysse Nardin sales headed Bonhams' Fine Watches and Wristwatches sale in New York on December 17.
 Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 ($109k) |
One of the top two sales was a fine and rare 18k gold automatic Patek Philippe Ref. 3448, retailed by Cartier and last sold in 1968.
With a Geneva seal, gold winding rotor and applied gold baton numerals among its other features, the watch brought an astounding $109,800.
Just ahead of it, however, was a stunning trilogy of three platinum astronomical wristwatches by Ulysse Nardin.
Made up of the "Astrolabium Galileo Galilei", the "Planetarium Copernicus", and the "Tellurium Johannes Kepler" in a custom winding box, the 1990s trilogy of unique timepieces sold for $122,000.
 Trilogy of watches by Ulysse Nardin ($122k) |
The Planetarium Copernicus, in particular, boasts a dial composed of six black steel rings, each featuring a planet, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, rotating around the centre representing the Sun.
The watches are quite unlike anything else to appear on this year's watch market, which goes some way to explaining their six-figure final selling price.
Watch this space for further news on Bonhams' December 17 New York sale.
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Images: Bonhams
