Sotheby’s, 13 May 2015 – Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Eberhard and Leonidas

Auctions · · by Christian Bissener


Leonidas steel split-seconds chronograph with cream dial, Arabic numerals and sub-dials on a green canvas strap

For Sotheby’s sale of 13 May I picked four beautiful and rare chronographs.

Leonidas, 1945

A monopusher split-seconds chronograph from 1945, in 43 mm stainless steel, with a matte silver dial, Arabic numerals and a blue tachymeter scale. Lot 216, estimate 20,000–30,000 CHF.

Eberhard, 1945

A rare Eberhard split-seconds chronograph from 1945. At 40 mm it has a very good size, and it was a good watch for the money. Lot 214, estimate 18,000–25,000 CHF.

Steel chronograph with cream dial, black Arabic numerals and sub-dials on a brown strap
Eberhard split-seconds chronograph, 1945

Audemars Piguet, 1946

The early chronographs by Audemars Piguet have a clean and very good design, as this one from 1946 shows, with a 35 mm yellow gold case and a matte silver dial with a blue tachymeter scale. Lot 143, estimate 7,000–9,000 CHF.

Yellow gold chronograph with cream dial, sub-dials and brown strap on a white background
Audemars Piguet chronograph, 1946, in 35 mm yellow gold

Patek Philippe, 1927

A Patek Philippe single-button chronograph “officer” from 1927, previously unknown. Only seven were known, and this was the eighth to surface publicly. It is an historically important watch, one of the first known wristwatch chronographs of the period. Lot 150, estimate 160,000–260,000 CHF.

Yellow gold chronograph with cream dial, gold Arabic numerals and sub-dials on a black strap
Patek Philippe single-button chronograph, 1927

Caseback of the gold chronograph with visible movement, ruby jewels and engraved bridges
The movement

Photographs: Sotheby’s.