A Multicategory Luxury Sale Series
Including Live and Online Auctions, a State-of – the – Art Exhibition and Virtual Educational Events
Encompassing Jewellery, Watches, Collectors Cars and Designer Handbags, this innovative format is tailored to the increasing trend of cross-collecting in the luxury categories
Geneva, November 2020 – Following a year of innovations and transformation of its business model, Sotheby’s inaugurates a new concept of luxury sales: The Festival of Wonder.
The first edition, to take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 7 until 11 November, will include a state – of – the – art exhibition, virtual educational events and a series of live and online sales dedicated to the fastest – growing luxury categories on the auction market. Encompassing Jewellery, Watches, Collectors Cars and Designer Handbags, this innovative format is tailored to the increasing trend of cross-collecting in these categories. It is also testament to the new definition of luxury and the evolving role played by auction houses in the sector.
The sale series will showcase the best of the best in each discipline – wonders of nature, treasures of creativity and marvels of engineering, all elevating luxury to the level of art. Highlights include an ultra-rare pink diamond, steeped in Russia’s long diamond tradition, a one-off Lancia Aurelia from the golden era of Italian automotive design, ground – breaking pocket watches by watchmaking geniuses, highly complicated vintage and modern timepieces and iconic designer handbags.
The flagship Jewellery, Watch and car live auctions will be streamed live on Sothebys.com on 11 November, while online sales will be opened for bidding during the entirety of the Festival.
Josh Pullan, Managing Director of the Luxury Division, said:
“This innovative concept showcases the intersection of multiple luxury categories and reflects how our clients collect across these disciplines. We believe that by creating interesting connections between jewellery, watches, cars and other luxury goods, we can engage in a deeper way with our existing clients and introduce new audiences to these passion-based categories. This is the first step in redefining pre-owned luxury and we’re excited to continue the journey in our next “Festival of Wonder” in New York in December.”
Caroline Lang, Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland, commented:
“The definition of luxury has profoundly evolved over the past decade, and so has the millenary-old tradition of collecting. Both notions are today very much anchored in the Zeitgeist of our time. Collectors are conscious of their environment and want to acquire unique objects, displaying exceptional materials and craftmanship and steeped in heritage – “wonders” that make us dream and invite us to ponder on the history of the world. This new concept unites marvels from the past with 21st-century objects of desire, from historic noble jewels and pocket watches to a newly discovered pink diamond. It is an invitation to anyone who is interested in learning more about the art and time-honoured savoir-faire that goes into the creation of timeless luxury pieces.”
MAGNIFICENT AND NOBLE JEWELS
This autumn, Sotheby’s Jewellery specialists have also gathered a selection of extraordinary jewels which tell the story of jewellery design from the18th until the 20th century. The selection will showcase storied pieces from aristocratic families, iconic designs from the world’s most prestigious houses, as well as an impressive group of rare diamonds and exceptional coloured stones.
WATCHES
Following a record – breaking first part of the year, the Watch team has curated three auctions for the “Festival of Wonder ”: one live on 11 November and two online.
Celebrating both the heritage brands and independent watchmakers, the sales will be highlighted by rare vintage Patek Philippe and Rolex watches, a large group of highly sought – after Audemars Piguet pieces and innovative watch creations by the most prominent Swiss independent watchmakers, including François -Paul Journe, Greubel Forsey, Urwerk and H. Moser.
Concluding a year of historical results for pocket watches at Sotheby’s, the sale series will also present the fourth and final instalment of “ Masterwork of time ”. Unparalleled in its scope and comprehensiveness, this extraordinary collection of over 800 long – unseen pieces has already set a swathe of records in 2019 – 20, including for an English Watch, a timepiece by an independent watchmaker, a pocket watch sold online and a watch online sale.
IMPORTANT WATCHES Live Auction:
11 November at 5.15 pm Online Auction: 2 -12 November
ROLEX ‘PAUL NEWMAN PANDA’ DAYTONA, REF 6263
Stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, circa 1970 Lot 58, est. US$330,000 – 549,000 (CHF 300,000 – 500,000 ) A fantastic example of one of the most sought – after vintage Rolex watches
AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK GRANDE COMPLICATION
White gold minute -repeating perpetual calendar split – seconds chronograph wristwatch with leap – year and week indication, moon phases and bracelet, circa 2008 Lot 54, est. US$220,000 – 239,000 (CHF 200,000- 400,000)
F.P. JOURNE CHRONOM ÈTRE À RÉSONANCE
Early pink gold dual time zone wristwatch with power reserve indication and brass movement, circa 2002 Lot 31, est. US$55,000 – 110,000 (CHF 50,000 – 100,000 ) An icon of modern watchmaking, the F.P. Journe Resonance was created in 2000, with the aim to implement the Breguet resonance principle in a wristwatch. This early example features a brass movement, making it a highly coveted piece.
MASTERWORKS OF TIME Live Auction Important Watches : 11 November at 5.15 pm
Online Auction Masterworks of Time: Splendours for the East : 2 -12 November
The online sale will feature rare pieces made for the Chinese, Turkish, and Indian markets .
PATEK PHILIPPE & CO., GENÈVE
A unique gold open – faced keyless lever watch with polychrome enamel painted scene by Suzanne Rohr, 1969 Lot 1, est. US$110,000 – 220,000 (CHF 100,000 – 200,000 )
Suzanne Rohr (b.1939) is recognised as one of the world’s finest miniature enamellists. Since the 1960s, Rohr has executed spectacular enamel panels for Patek Philippe. The painstakingly detailed nature of her work has ensured that just one to three panels by Rohr have been produced each year. The present watch’s panel is a relatively early example by the artist and depicts the “ View over the Mont Blanc from Sallanches”, after an 1814 painting by Pierre Louis De la Rive.
BREGUET
A two -colour gold open – faced keyless one – minute tourbillon watch with up – and – down indication . No. 3356 sold in 1939 Lot 7 , est. US$110,000 – 220,000 (CHF 100,000 – 200,000 ) Tourbillon watches sold by Breguet in the first half of the 20th century are extremely rare. The sophisticated guilloché dial with blued steel moon hands, and the two – colour gold case with milled band, pay homage to the signature style established by Abraham -Louis Breguet.
ILBERY , LONDON
A rare gold and enamel centre seconds duplex watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1830 Featuring a polychrome enamel painted scene depicting a Chinese junk ship at Whampoa reach by the Whampoa reach Pagoda, near Canton Lot 559, est. US$22,000 – 33,000 (CHF 20,000- 30,000) Ilbery is considered as the “father” of Chinese watches – luxurious enamel pocket watches in gold made in the 19th century for the Chinese market where they were highly coveted. The pieces depicting harbour scenes are among the most prized watches by the watchmaker . A very similar watch can be found in the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum.
COLLECTORS CAR
For the first time in Geneva, Sotheby’s will offer a classic car in a live sale: a 1953 Lancia Aurelia B52 Spider by Vignale, painted in light ‘Verde Lago metallic’ (lake green) and featuring bordeaux red leather interior.
Designed under the direction of Vittorio Jano, the Lancia Aurelia epitomises the creativity of the Italian car industry in the 1950s, a golden era for automotive artisans and engineers. Famed for its exceptional build quality and advanced technology, the Aurelia also inaugurated Lancia’s post -war tradition of naming its cars after famous Roman roads, in this case the Via Aurelia which connected Rome and Pisa.
The car is one of only 12 B52 chassis produced in 1953, and the only one sporting this Michellotti- styled Carrozzeria Vignale coachwork. With its strong Motor Show pedigree, this Aurelia offers all the attributes Lancia connoisseurs seek out. It will be offered in a dedicated live auction on 11 November with an estimate of CHF 500,000 – 550,000.
DESIGNER HANDBAGS & ACCESSORIES
To celebrate its first Handbags & Accessories sale run out of Geneva, Sotheby’s will present examples of the finest craftsmanship from Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and other legendary fashion houses. The sale will feature a hand – picked selection of handbags in a variety of sizes, skins and colours, and with estimates ranging from CHF 500 – 60,000
