The Greatest Watch Collection
Surprise is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the vintage watch market, and Sotheby’s New York will serve up a generous helping of it this June, when the auction house features never-before-seen timepieces from the collections of Reginald H. Fullerton Jr. and his grandfather, Henry Graves Jr. (Watch aficionados will recognize Graves as one of the most important collectors of the 20th century.)
A supercomplicated pocket watch that Graves commissioned from Patek Philippe remains the single most expensive timepiece ever purchased at auction. Fullerton sold it in 1999 for just over $11 million.
This time around, there will be 55 watches featured in the sale, 13 of which were originally purchased by Graves. Among them are a yellow gold Tonneau Minute Repeating Wristwatch from Patek Philippe (expected to fetch at least $600,000), a yellow gold Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Leap Year indication, also from Patek Philippe (expected to go for at least $200,000), and a collection of seven modern pieces from Breguet (collected by Fullerton).
The collection opens for viewing on June 9, and the sale is June 14.
Sotheby’s: 1334 York Avenue, 212.606.7000
View Sothebys in a larger map
