Richard Mille took the top two spots in Christie’s Important Watches auction in New York, held Monday. Watches from Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe and F.P. Journe also performed well at the live auction, which kicked off Christie’s “Luxury Week” in New York.
The Richard Mille, Ferrari ultra-thin reference RM UP-01 TI, Numbered 37⁄150, circa 2024
Christie’s
The top lot of the sale was an ultra-thin watch created by Richard Mille in partnership with Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari. The Richard Mille Ferrari Model Ultra-Flat reference RM UP-01 TI, 37⁄150, circa 2024, has a thickness of 1.75mm, making it the second-thinnest watch in the world, only surpassed by the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra Mark II at 1.7mm. It fetched nearly $1.4 million.
The movement was developed through a collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle. It features a skeletonized base plate and bridges made of grade 5 titanium and a fast-rotating barrel providing around 45 hours of power reserve.
The manual movement is wound and set with a special function selector on the front of the case, operated by a key. The watch also features a patented escapement with a balance wheel in grade 5 titanium that drastically reduces the caliber’s thinness while providing the same security as a conventional Swiss anchor escapement, the auction house says.
Richard Mille 18k white gold skeletonized watch for the 150th anniversary of Boucheron
Christie’s
Richard Mille also scored big with one of its more conventional watches (if you can call any Richard Mille timepiece conventional). The 18k white gold skeletonized tourbillon watch with agate wheels was made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of French high jewelry house Boucheron. The 39mm, circa 2008 timepiece is a unique piece. It sold for nearly $1.2 million.
Overall, the Important Watches sale at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters realized $10.9 million with 97% of the 103 lots sold.
Cartier Crash watch, 1986, one of three made in the luxury brand’s London workshop.
Christie’s
The number three lot in the sale was the Cartier Crash watch, 1986. It is believed to be one of three made in the luxury brand’s London workshop, Christie’s said. The 24mm by 42.5mm 18k yellow gold timepiece is completed with a 18k gold Cartier London deployant clasp. It sold for $819,000. It was one of two Cartier Crash watches in the sale.
Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ reference 6239
Christie’s
The top Rolex watch in the sale was a 36.5mm stainless steel chronograph, reference 6239, with “Paul Newman” dial and bracelet. It sold for $453,600, nearly double its high estimate.
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Series 3 tourbillon platinum case and brass movement
Christie’s
There were four F.P. Journe watches in the auction led by an early platinum tourbillon with power reserve and a remontoir d’egalité constant force mechanism and brass movement. The 38mm timepiece sold for $378,000.
Patek Philippe 18k yellow and pink gold “Chameleon,” reference 1252
Christie’s
Among the 32 Patek Philippe watches in the sale, the top lot was a possible unique and unusual 18k yellow and pink gold “Chameleon” hinged bangle bracelet with a pink dial. The women’s watch, reference 1252, was manufactured in 1940. It achieved $378,000, nearly four times its $100,000 high estimate.
This was followed by a Patek Philippe reference 3970E, 36mm 18k pink gold chronograph with moon phases, 24-hour and leap-year indicators, circa 1990. It fetched $277,200, well above its high estimate.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition ‘Polaris Dawn’ worn in space
Christie’s
In addition, the auction featured four IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” timepieces used for the low-Earth orbit Polaris Dawn mission, which concluded successfully in September. The four watches were auctioned to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All four watches featured 44.5mm ceramic and titanium cases and blue dials with Polaris Dawn mission patches.
All worn by the astronauts in the mission, they all sold for well above their $15,000 – $25,000 estimates. The top lot in this group was the watch worn by Jared “Rock” Isaacman, which fetched $126,000.
This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
