Audemars Piguet single-button \u201cCoussin Tortue<\/a>\u201d chronograph wristwatch, model no. 41,849, which achieved more than $2.7 million, setting an auction record for a vintage Audemars Piguet chronograph wristwatch. Bidding lasted more than 10 minutes, with the watch ultimately sold to a telephone bidder represented by Guillemin. The piece realized more than five times its high estimate.<\/p>\n\u201cWe were fortunate to offer a beautiful Audemars Piguet that was one of only two examples known to exist out of three produced,\u201d Guillemin said.<\/p>\n
The watch was consigned by third-generation descendants of the original owner. Originally purchased on Christmas Eve in 1935, it had remained in the family for more than 90 years, Christie\u2019s said.<\/p>\n
According to Christie\u2019s research, Audemars Piguet began producing movements for its first chronograph wristwatches in 1930. Although six movements were made, only three chronographs were recorded and just two examples are known to survive today. Between 1930 and the early 1980s, the brand produced only 307 chronograph wristwatches.<\/p>\n
1990 Cartier Crash London sold for a record $2 million <\/p>\n
Christie’s<\/p>\n
The third-highest lot was a 1990 Cartier Crash London, which sold for $2 million and established a new auction record for the model. The watch featured a distressed yellow-gold case and matching \u201cCrash\u201d deployant clasp, both signed Cartier London.<\/p>\n
It was one of two Cartier Crash models offered in the sale. The second watch was made in Paris at a time when the two Cartier branches operated independently. Guillemin said collectors recognize the distinctions between London and Paris-made examples.<\/p>\n
\u201cClients today completely understand the importance of a Crash made in London versus one made in Paris, even though there\u2019s just a one-year difference,\u201d he said. \u201cThey understand the scarcity of the timepiece and the fact that the wristwatches are different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tiffany Blue Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711\/1A-018, fetched more than $1.6 million<\/p>\n
Christie’s<\/p>\n
The fourth highest lot was a Tiffany Blue Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711\/1A-018, which sold for more than $1.6 million. The limited-edition model, produced in 2021 to mark the 170th anniversary of the partnership between Tiffany & Co. and Patek Philippe, was issued in a run of 170 pieces.<\/p>\n
Additional highlights included:<\/p>\n
A Patek Philippe Ref. 3970EP-047 with a black monogram dial commissioned by Michael Steven Ovitz fetched $1.3 million<\/p>\n
Christie’sA Patek Philippe Ref. 3970EP-047 with a black monogram dial commissioned by American collector Michael Steven Ovitz, which fetched $1.3 million.<\/p>\n
A 1994 A. Lange & S\u00f6hne Tourbillon Pour le M\u00e9rite Ref. 701.005 sold for $975,360<\/p>\n
Christie’sA 1994 A. Lange & S\u00f6hne Tourbillon Pour le M\u00e9rite Ref. 701.005, from a limited edition of 200 pieces, which sold for $975,360. An A. Lange & S\u00f6hne Lange 1 Tourbillon, notable as the first wristwatch to combine a tourbillon with a progressive power reserve indicator, realized $926,592. <\/p>\n
Timepieces from independent watchmakers were eagerly pursued by collectors as well. For example, a circa 1990 Daniel Roth stainless-steel limited-edition double-sided tourbillon watch with date and power reserve indication, sold for $520,192, double its high estimate.<\/p>\n
In addition, a stainless-steel limited-edition Krayon reference c030 with date, month, 24-hour and sunset\/sunrise indication, fetched $203,200.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndependent watchmaking is still extremely strong, and the buyers are in search of watches from independent watchmakers which, in essence, have quite a finite level of supply due to the production capabilities of some of the watchmakers. They don\u2019t produce 10,000 or 20,000 watches, but they produce maybe 50 or 1,000. Also, I think buyers in the market today are savvy and sophisticated. They know what they’re looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Geneva sale was notable for being the first time Christie\u2019s staged its Rare Watches auction across two days. This sale also marked the debut of Christie\u2019s new rostrum, designed by Sir Jony Ive and the LoveFrom team.<\/p>\n
Collectors participated actively in the room, by telephone, and online, Christie\u2019s said. Buyers came from around the globe, including 44% from EMEA, 19% from Asia-Pacific, and 28% from the United States. Approximately 30% of bidders and buyers were new to Christie\u2019s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"F.P.Journe platinum Tourbillon Souverain Ref. T sold for more than $3.1 million, double its high estimate Christie’s Christie\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":65043,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[28519,1656,10126,35476,32537,65,35475,35477,1657,35474],"class_list":{"0":"post-65042","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-geneva","8":"tag-a-lange-sohne","9":"tag-audemars-piguet","10":"tag-cartier","11":"tag-daniel-roth","12":"tag-f-p-journe","13":"tag-geneva","14":"tag-jony-ive","15":"tag-krayon","16":"tag-patek-philippe","17":"tag-tiffany"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ch\/116570896819480253","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"F.P.Journe](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778730608_471_0x0.jpg\")
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