Watches

The Patek Philippe in question, lot number 125, features a 35-millimetre stainless-steel case and simple leather strap – so it’s far from the most striking piece set to be auctioned by Phillips on 10 May 2015. However, for racing fans, the watch is one of the great highlights of the sale: it once belonged to the American racer, designer and sailor Briggs S.

It almost goes without saying that Antiquorum Geneva will offer the obligatory Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’, for an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Swiss Francs. The most expensive watch of the auction, a Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 / 100 from the early 1980s, is estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 CHF. Most of the timepieces in the catalogue, however, sit below the magical 10,000 CHF mark, and there are many unusual specimens which might also be of interest to beginners. How about a Rolex in the style of the Football Club of Tijuana?

You can say what you like about partnerships between brands and historic motorsport events. Many see only the commercial side of the branded watches, unappreciative of the efforts of the watchmaker. But for many participants at events such as the Tour Auto, the limited-production 'rally watches’ are a beautiful, if not entirely favourable reminder of an enjoyable and exciting event.

There are several horological milestones being celebrated in 2015 – 40 years of the ‘Bulgari Bulgari’ watch, for example, and a decade since the launch of the original, square-cased Bell & Ross BR-01. But perhaps more significant is that this is the 60th year of production of the flagship Rolex, the Day-Date.

All watches from Antiquorum’s ‘Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces’ sale in New York can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

Our 10 favourites from Antiquorum’s watch auction in New York