"It's all about time" would be an apt phrase to describe the celebratory mood in Christie's Watch Department this year. Throughout 2015 the auction house will fete 55 years of standalone watch sales. Dubai is set to receive its own laurels from the watch community with its 5th consecutive stand-alone watch sale on 21 October: The Important Watch Sale.
“It’s all about time” would be an apt phrase to describe the celebratory mood in Christie’s Watch Department this year. Throughout 2015 the auction house will fete 55 years of standalone watch sales. Dubai is set to receive its own laurels from the watch community with its 5th consecutive stand-alone watch sale on 21 October: The Important Watch Sale.
Taking place during Dubai Watch Week, the auction house’s fifth consecutive stand-alone watch sale will be organized in Dubai.
The Middle Eastern market for unique and exceptional watches has been flourishing over the past several decades. It is encouraging to see the addition of new watch initiatives, such as the first Dubai Watch Week to take place in the region, underlining the growing interest for fine watches in the Middle East. During the last several sales Christie’s reported a 50 percent progression of collectors participating in its sales originating from more diverse regions. In October 2015 the auction house welcomes collectors from 30 different countries – also representing the progression of 50 percent in collectors. Of note has been a growing interest in vintage watches. In Christie’s first sale, vintage watches accounted for only 5 percent whereas in the upcoming sale vintage watches account for 29 percent. Furthermore, Christie’s has observed a general development in the quality of watches researched by Middle Eastern collectors.
Among the highlights in the upcoming sale is an extremely rare and attractive platinum limited edition Patek Philippe (pictured above) automatic world time wristwatch with a green dial, an original certificate and a box; an extremely fine and very rare stainless steel cushion-shaped split seconds Patek Philippe (pictured above) chronograph wristwatch with breguet numerals, additional case back, with an original certificate and box, and factory sealed; a very fine oversized forged carbon, titanium and ceramic limited edition automatic Audemars Piguet chronograph wristwatch with date; a lady’s very fine 18-carat gold and diamond-set oval automatic Breguet wristwatch with mother-of-pearl dial, and a very fine 18-carat white gold and diamond-set rectangular Cartier chronograph wristwatch with date and bracelet, among many others. This month is all about time in Dubai. We look forward to the results.
Christie’s Important Watch Sale takes place on 21 October at 7pm in Jumeirah Emirates Towers. For more information, visit www.christies,com
