Sotheby's Hong Kong Autumn Sales : Important Watches & Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite

Hong Kong, August 2009 Sotheby’s Hong Kong Autumn Sales 2009 will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 3 to 8 October 2009. This sales series will offer over 2,300 lots of Modern and Contemporary Chinese and Southeast Asian Art, traditional Chinese paintings, fine Chinese ceramics and works of art as well as jewellery, watches and wine with a total estimate in excess of HK$780 million / US$100 million*. Selected highlights will be showcased during travelling exhibitions across Asia and in New York in August and September, followed by a public exhibition in Hong Kong from 3 to 7 October 2009.

Mr. Kevin Ching, Chief Executive Officer, Sotheby’s Asia, said, “Sotheby’s Hong Kong shall continue its commitment to offer only the very best to Asia and the rest of the world. The forthcoming and thoughtfully curated October sales are set to satisfy the distinctive and diverse taste of our discerning clients and collectors. We are particularly delighted to bring to market a number of outstanding private collections with impeccable provenance. They include fine wines from two outstanding private collections, a private collection of Imperial works of art from the Qianlong reign, as well as exceptional modern Chinese ink paintings and contemporary Chinese art. Collectively our offerings, many of exceptional quality and rarity, shall enthrall the market and collectors alike.”

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Important Watches – 7 October: estimated total: over HK$26 million; total lots: over 200, including over 50 exclusive modern timepieces from The Property from an Important Private Collection estimated in excess of HK$8 million.

From The Property from an Important Private Collection:

An Impressive and Rare Jaeger-LeCoultre limited edition Platinum Perpetual Calendar Multi-axis Spherical Tourbillon Wristwatch Gyrotourbillon 1, circa 2006. Est.: HK$2-3 million. photo courtesy Sotheby's

making - as the first spherical tourbillon the world has ever seen. Located at the heart of this horological marvel is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 177, which displays the multi-axis gyrating tourbillon, equation of time indication and a perpetual calendar equipped with four retrograde hands. Limited to only 75 pieces - with the present example numbered 11 - this exclusive timepiece makes its auction debut in Asia.

Other highlights of the auction:

Patek Philippe, 18K White Gold Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch, circa 1979, Ref. 3448G Est.: HK$1-1.5 million. photo courtesy Sotheby's

The model, Ref. 3448, was first launched in 1962, and was the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch in the market at that time. The majority of this model was produced in 18-carat yellow gold cases. This example, however, was sculpted in 18-carat white gold, and is even rarer due to its exceptionally pristine condition.

Breguet, Souscription No. 108, limited edition set of Platinum Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch, Ref. 3430 (pictured left), and Platinum Perpétuelle Watch, Ref. 1890, circa 1994? Est.: HK$950,000–1.2 million. photo courtesy Sotheby's

Soucription sets were produced to celebrate Breguet’s more than 200 years of history. Among the limited production of 300 sets, it is believed that only 15 sets were produced in platinum. The current example is numbered 108.

Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite – 7 October:estimated total: in excess of HK$230 million; total lots: over 320

A Very Fine Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 18.08 carats. Expected to fetch approximately HK$10 million. photo courtesy Sotheby's

Fine Kashmir sapphires are virtually unobtainable today as its initial mine was depleted over a century ago. This 18.08-carat Kashmir sapphire, set in a classic ring with two cushion-shaped diamonds of over 2 carats, is extremely rare for its size and quality.

A Pair of Jadeite Huaigu and Diamond Pendent Earrings. Est.: HK$2.8–3.8 million. photo courtesy Sotheby's

Huaigu is one of the most traditional shapes in jadeite and is also a symbol of the heaven and eternity. This flawless pair of jadeite huaigu ear pendants of exceptional translucency and very fine emerald green colour is a magical treasure of jadeite connoisseurship.

A Rare and Unusual Octahedral shaped “Flower Diamond”, 7.39 carats. Est.: HK$1.5–2.5 million. photo courtesy Sotheby's

This 7.39-carat octahedral diamond is a singular example that displays six unusually large petal-shaped clouds that form a delicate flower pattern, in all of the eight facets of the diamond. Each of the petals is composed of billions of tiny pinpoints that result from an unusual and complex growth history of the diamond.

Hong Kong Exhibition and Auction Venue: Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (New Wing), 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Travelling Exhibitions
28 – 30 August Jakarta
5 – 6 September Shanghai
8 – 9 September Beijing
11 – 15 September New York
12 – 13 September Singapore
15 – 16 September Bangkok
19 – 20 September Taipei