Antiquorum’s June 22 auction of Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces in Hong Kong includes a top-notch group of tourbillon wristwatches from brands including Jaeger-Le Coultre, Harry Winston, and Audemars Piguet. Among the highest estimated lots is an A. Lange & Söhne Ref. 702.025F “Tourbograph Pour Le Mérite” platinum watch, one of a limited edition of 51 examples made in 2007. The auction house expects the timepiece to take a price between $HK1.8 million and $HK2.8 million ($232–360,000). Also included in the tourbillon offerings is a Jaeger-LeCoultre “Gyrotourbillion” platinum wristwatch with tourbillon and perpetual calendar, estimated at $HK1.7 million to $HK2.3 million ($218–296,000). Another contender for a top slot is a Harry Winston“Opus 2” platinum skeletonized double-dial watch with a perpetual calendar and tourbillon regulator (est. $HK1–1.5 million; $129–193,000).
Tourbillons are regulating mechanisms that were developed with the aim of attaining better precision. The movement was invented by watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795 and is widely considered one of the most complicated achievements in the horological world. Antiquorum’s watch expert in Tokyo, Genki Sakamoto said “the highly valuable timepieces offer collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to acquire outstanding examples of complicated watches from some of the world’s leading brands.”
Another highlight, though at a more modest price range, is actor James Dean’s Elgin pocket watch, bought in late 1951 when he was still a struggling young actor working in New York. According to Antiquorum experts, it was Dean’s first big purchase, and he was so proud of it he had his initials engraved on the gold cover. The actor considered the watch his good luck charm, wearing it in his pants pocket (as opposed to a vest pocket), with the chain dangling from a belt loop, reportedly despite the protests of director Elia Kazan during the filming of East of Eden. Dean’s prized timepiece is priced at $5,000 to $10,000, but could likely fetch more given its illustrious history.