Geneva, 14 May 2016 - Today’s sale of Important Watches at Sotheby’s in Geneva was led by an extremely rare pocket watch by Patek Philippe, which surpassed its estimate to reach CHF 472,000 / $475,488 (est. CHF 280,000 – 380,000). Thought to be one of only two models of reference 844 in white gold, this minute repeating perpetual calendar watch with moon-phases from 1973 bears a full digital display of day, month and date held within a single aperture.

Offered for the first time at auction, a very rare stainless steel Patek Philippe wristwatch with black dial and Breguet numerals, reference 1504, soared to more than ten times its pre-sale estimate, reaching CHF 328,000 / $330,424 (est. CHF 20,000 - 40,000). This is the only known example of this reference which combines a stainless steel case, black dial and pink gold Breguet numerals.

A stunning example of Swiss Art Deco design, a superb desk timepiece made by Vacheron Constantin, in collaboration with Verger Frères, sold for CHF 430,000 / $433,178 (est. CHF 80,000 - 120,000). Eight avid collectors vied for this exquisite piece, created in 1926, which features a mother-of-pearl dial by Vladimir Makovsky.

A world auction record for a Heuer watch was set today when Formula One driver Ronnie Peterson’s Heuer Carerra watch sold in the room for CHF 225,000 / $226,663, over 20 times the pre-sale estimate of CHF 10,000 – 20,000. No fewer than six passionate collectors vied for the watch during a ten-minute bidding battle. This reference 1158 was presented to Ronnie Peterson by Jack W. Heuer in 1972 on the occasion of the signing of a sponsorship deal.

These highlights, together with a rich selection of vintage and modern wristwatches, drove the total of today’s sale to CHF 4,051,813 ($4,081,756).