Sotheby’s inaugurates a New Concept of Luxury Sales in Geneva - The Festival of Wonder
Sotheby’s inaugurates a New Concept of Luxury Sales in Geneva
THE FESTIVAL OF WONDER
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
Exhibition and Auctions: Geneva, 7 - 11 November 2020
Geneva, 4th November 2020- Following a year of innovations and transformation of its business model, Sotheby’s inaugurates this week a new concept of luxury sales: The Festival of Wonder. The first edition, to take place in Geneva from 7 until 11 November, will include a state-of-the-art exhibition (upon appointment only), 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 Sotheby.com on 11 November, while online sales will be opened for bidding during the entirety of the Festival (see press release for detailed calendar).
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.”
EXHIBITION
7-10 November, 10am-6pm (upon appointment only)
Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, Quai Turrettini 1, 1201
One-on-one virtual previews of the exhibition with Geneva specialists can also be booked on the sale homepages
VIRTUAL EVENTS
For more information on the virtual tour, Instagram Lives, Webinars to take place ahead of the sales, please check Sothebys.com/festivalofwonder and follow us on @Sothebys, @SothebysJewels, @SothebysWatches, Twitter, Facebook, WeChat | Weibo
LIVE AUCTIONS
11 November (streamed live on sothebys.com, with no audience in the salesroom)
Sotheby’s Geneva, Rue François-Diday 2, 1204
1953 Lancia Aurelia B52 Spider by Vignale (5pm CET)
Important Watches featuring Masterworks of Time (5.15pm CET)
Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels (6.30pm CET)
“The Spirit of the Rose” diamond (8.30pm CET)
ONLINE AUCTIONS
Masterworks of Time: Splendours for the East (2-12 November)
Important Watches Part II (2-12 November)
Handbags and Accessories (3-12 November)
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 5.15pm Online Auction: 2-12 November.
IMPORTANT WATCHES
Live Auction: 11 November at 5.15pm
Online Auction: 2-12 November
Lot 58. ROLEX 'PAUL NEWMAN PANDA' DAYTONA, REF 6263
Stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, circa 1970
Est. US$ 330,000 – 549,000 (CHF 300,000 - 500,000)
A fantastic example of one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex watches.
Lot 54. 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
Est. US$ 220,000 – 239,000 (CHF 200,000-400,000)
Lot 31. F.P. JOURNE CHRONOMÈTRE À RÉSONANCE
Early pink gold dual time zone wristwatch with power reserve indication and brass movement, circa 2002
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 5.15pm
Online Auction Masterworks of Time: Splendours for the East: 2-12 November
Highlights of the live and online sale are illustrated below. The online sale will feature rare pieces made for the Chinese, Turkish, and Indian markets.
Lot 1. PATEK PHILIPPE & CO., GENÈVE
A unique gold open-faced keyless lever watch with polychrome enamel painted scene by Suzanne Rohr, 1969
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.
A two-colour gold open-faced keyless one-minute tourbillon watch with up-and-down indication. No. 3356 sold in 1939
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 twocolour gold case with milled band, pay homage to the signature style established by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
Lot 559. 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.
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.
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