Ineichen Auctioneers’ March 2022 sale, La Vie en Rose, saw two F.P.Journe collectors’ pieces achieve eye-watering hammer prices on March 12: Top lots included the Chronomètre à Résonance Sincere Limited Edition No. 202-RN, which was estimated at CHF 200,000-300,000 and sold for CHF 360’000.

Similar success was achieved for the Octa Calendrier Sincere Limited-Edition No. 239-Q. This one sold for CHF 280’000, against an original estimate of CHF 150’000-200’000.

“We started the year feeling positive, and with our rose-colored spectacles firmly in place. That’s why we decided to name our March auction La Vie en Rose, taken from the lyrics of Edith Piaf’s famous song, which explore themes of love, romance, and resilience! We set our sights on continuing our world record-breaking streak from 2021, and we’re very pleased with the sale results.”

Artemy Lechbinsky, CEO of Ineichen Auctioneers

La Vie en Rose had 40 lots on the programme – all watches with rose gold cases – created by watchmaking maisons like Vacheron Constantin, Roger Dubuis, F.P.Journe, Daniel Roth, Cartier, IWC, De Bethune, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breguet, Panerai, Girard-Perregaux, A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, and others. “We were very happy to hit the CHF 2’500’000 mark in our first sale of the year,” said Lechbinsky. “We look forward to continuing the trend at our upcoming Precious Blues and Konstantin Chaykin Joker XXX Unique Piece auctions on April 23 and April 30, respectively.”

Vacheron Constantin Les Complications Chronograph Perpetual Calendar Ref. 49005/000R, estimated at CHF 15’000-20’000 broke a new world record, selling for CHF 52’000. The previous auction sale was CHF 16’400 with Phillips. The highest market price for this reference was 36,720 EUR in 2012. This timepiece, manufactured at the end of 1990s, is one of the few Ref. 49005 examples to feature a rose gold case and the rarest black dial with a handmade guilloché decoration. The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton Ref. 81015-52-002-052A, on the other hand, was also in demand among bidders at the La Vie en Rose auction. Estimated to go for CHF 20,000-30,000, this lot sold for CHF 74’000.

Finally, the Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir Mk2 Ref. 2781 also achieved an impressive CHF 36’000 against an estimate of CHF 20,000-30,000. It is one of the first pieces included in the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) introduced by Cartier in 1998. The design is based on the first wristwatch of this shape created by Louis Cartier in 1912 as well as vintage tortue-shaped single-button chronograph wristwatches produced by the brand in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The shape resembles a turtle standing on four legs.

Top lots:

• F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Sincere Limited Edition No. 202-RN, sold for: CHF 360’000
• F.P.Journe Octa Calendrier Sincere Limited-Edition No. 239-Q, sold for: CHF 280’000
• Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Date, sold for: CHF 150’000
• Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph Tiffany, sold for: CHF 90’000
• Harry Winston Opus V Felix Baumgartner, sold for: CHF 85’000

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