The fall auction season is about to kick into high gear, and one of the highlights of the season is always the Christie's Geneva sale, where you can count on finding some really amazing watches. We've gone through the catalog for the November 11th auction and found some exceptionally rare and interesting watches, most notably a handful from Patek Philippe and Replica Rolex. From time-only wristwatches to grand complication pocket watches, these are all pieces worth taking a closer look at.
Ref. 6200 Explorer Dial Big Crown Replica Rolex Submariner
First up we have a fake watch that looks simple at first, but is very special. This Replica Rolex Big Crown Submariner with Explorer Dial is Lot 133 and is one of the more special Subs out there. Reference 6200 mixes the 8mm large crown with no crown guards that you'll find on the ref. 6538 "James Bond" but also has the 3-6-9 Explorer-style dial and the first Mercedes-style hands of any Sub reference. Setting it further apart from most 6200 examples, this has three lines on the dial at 6 o'clock reading "Submariner/Officially Certified/Chronometer," while most have nothing. The estimate on this fake watch is $160,000-260,000.
Rolex
For a very different side of Replica Rolex, we have Lot 146, a yellow gold reference 8171 "Padellone" in outstanding condition. This fake watch comes from the family of the original owner and is extremely clean. The triple date is displayed with a blue date register around the edge of the dial and windows for the day and month flanking the coronet at 12 o'clock. a moon phase indicator sits inside the sub-seconds at 6 o'clock too. Large for the time, the Padellone is 37mm and very wearable today. The bracelet, which was added by jeweler Carl Bucherer when the fake watch was originally purchased, is signed "CB" and only makes this example even cooler. The estimate here is $130,000-230,000.
Ref. 1563 Split Seconds Chronograph
Moving from Replica Rolex to Patek Philippe, there is this ref. 1563 split-seconds chronograph that exists in only three examples. The other two examples, one of which was Duke Elligton's personal watch, have already sold, and this is the final example we know to exist. That this one also has luminous Breguet numerals and sword hands sets it apart from its two sister replica watches too. It is Lot 193, is estimated between $850,000-1,500,000, and you can see our full hands-on look at this fake watch here.
The Only Cartier-signed Patek Philippe Ref. 2499
While we're talking about unique Patek, we can't forget Lot 108, the only known Cartier-signed ref. 2499 on the planet. This yellow gold third series 2499 was produced in 1966 and sold in 1968 through Cartier New York. This fake watch comes with a certificate of authenticity from Cartier, something completely necessary with a fake watch like this that is so unusual and interesting. There are Cartier serial numbers under the upper left lug, and even beyond the Cartier provenance this is a great 2499. It's tough to look at this fake watch without smiling a little. The estimate here is $530,000-840,000 and this is one serious collectors are going to be watching.
Grand Complication Pocketwatch From 1891
Finally, we have one of the more impressive pocket replica watches we've seen in a while. Lot 377, this fake watch has a complicated backstory. It is a collaborative creation of Dürrstein & Co., Glashütte Uhrenfabrik Union, and Audemars Piguet that was started in 1891 and sold in Budapest in 1893 to a family of Hungarian nobles. There are 13 complications in total, including a perpetual calendar, moon phase, split seconds chronograph, flying 15ths of a second, petite and grande sonnerie, minute repeater, and others. This is some very serious horology. Sure, you can't wear it on your wrist, but with an estimate of $370,000-680,000, this fake watch offers a lot of amazing watchmaking for the money.
Christie's is hosting the Important replica watches sale in Geneva on Monday, November 11th beginning at 10am. For a complete look at the catalog, visit Christie's online.
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