Well, the results are in – from Christie’s that is. With its final auction of the fall season just recently in New York, Christie’s International wrapped up a record-breaking year for fine and rare watches that totaled $91.2 million in sales – the highest annual amount ever achieved for watches by the global auction house.
What’s even more amazing is that the top watch of the year sold for a record price of $5.7 million dollars – to be precise – $5,708,833. That top selling vintage watch was for a Patek Philippe; anyone surprised by that? Certainly, I’m not. The watch that fetched the top dollars: Reference 1527, manufactured in 1943. The estimated value of this perpetual calendar watch was between $1.5 and $2.4 million. Bids came from around the world for this baby, driving the prices higher and higher. The watch ultimately went to a private Swiss museum. Hmm — wonder if we will see it in the Patek Philippe museum on our next visit?All I know is that I can’t even imagine paying the estimated value, let alone the final $5.7 million – but I can say that this is one impressive watch.