Rare pocket watches at Sotheby’s, 11 November

Auctions · · by Christian Bissener


Gold pocket watch by Audemars Frères with white dial, Arabic numerals and sub-dials

We like pocket watches for their class and style, even if they are not fashionable today. They were made when there were no computers and no CNC machines, and built entirely by hand, which is what makes them so fascinating.

Audemars Frères, circa 1890

A minute repeater with grande and petite sonnerie and a calendar with day and date. The dial layout is a pleasure: day at ten o’clock, date at two, small seconds at six. Lot 92, estimate CHF 45,000–95,000.

Pocket chronograph movement with gilt plate, screw-mounted levers and gear train
Audemars Frères – the movement

Repeater with chronograph, circa 1905

Victorin Piguet specialised in high-quality repeaters and chronographs, and was involved in the construction of the Henry Graves Supercomplication and the Packard Grande Complication, as well as in the development of Patek Philippe’s first split-seconds chronograph. This watch is a minute repeater with chronograph and 30-minute register, made circa 1905. The finishing of the movement is remarkable. Lot 368, estimate CHF 40,000–80,000.

Gold hunter-case chronograph with white enamel dial, black Roman numerals and a small sub-dial
Minute repeater with chronograph, circa 1905

Chronograph movement on a wooden stand with silver-toned plate, red jewels and levers
The movement

Audemars Piguet, 1910

A split-seconds chronograph with 30-minute register and minute repeater. The champagne dial in a yellow gold case is a fine combination, and the movement is a beauty. Lot 346, estimate CHF 25,000–45,000.

Gold pocket chronograph with champagne dial, Arabic numerals, blue hands and sub-dials
Split-seconds chronograph with minute repeater, 1910

Gold pocket watch seen from the back with an open caseback showing the chronograph movement
The movement

Patek Philippe

A pocket watch with calendar and moon phase, split-seconds chronograph and minute repeater, beautiful and extremely rare. It is believed that only two of these were made each year after the combination was introduced in 1887. Through the influence of the buyer Horace Scudder Sears, Patek Philippe went on to receive commissions from well-known collectors such as James Ward Packard and Henry Graves Jr. Lot 349, estimate CHF 175,000–250,000.

Gold pocket watch with white dial and blue moon phase in an open wooden box with a Patek Philippe plaque
Patek Philippe with calendar, moon phase, split seconds and minute repeater

Close view of the gold pocket chronograph movement with ruby jewels, column wheel and levers
The movement

Photographs: Sotheby’s.