1
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2009
Media Contacts:
Kate Swan Malin (Hong Kong)
+852 2978 9966
kmalin@christies.com
Gillian Leung(Hong Kong)
+852 2978 6736
gleung@christies.com
Belinda Chen (Beijing)
+8610 6500 6517
bchen@christies.com
CHRISTIE’S SALE OF
IMPORTANT WATCHES
OFFERS RARE & COLLECTIBLE TIMEPIECES
FROM THE MOST RENOWNED MAKERS
Hong Kong – Christie’s Autumn sale of Important Watches in Hong Kong will take place on December 2 at
the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Offering more than 450 rare and collectible timepieces
valued in excess of HK$60million (US$7.5million) from renowned manufacturers such as Audemars Piguet,
Breguet, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Ulysse Nardin, and Vacheron Constantin, this sale offers
something for watch collectors across a spectrum of taste and price.
Rare Timepieces For Today’s Discerning Collectors
From Celebrated Works by the Masters of Horology to
Collector’s Pieces from Watchmaking’s Newest Stars
Among the leading sale highlights is the Tourbograph “Pour le Merite” from A.
Lange & Sohne (estimate: HK$2,200,000-4,000,000/US$285,000-300,000), the
very first wristwatch in the history of horology that unites three marvels from
the realm of ultra complications: a fusée-and-chain transmission, tourbillon,
and rattrapante chronograph mechanism. This very special timepiece is the
second Lange creation with the attribute “Pour le Mérite”, an accolade for the superb
horological skills of the Lange’s master watchmakers. The name alludes to the
most prestigious order of merit inspired by Alexander von Humboldt, sponsored
by King Frederick William IV in 1842, for outstanding, predominantly scientific
accomplishments. As the name suggests, the Tourbograph integrates a timekeeping mechanism that allows
lap times to be measured. The present model remains to this day the most complex and exclusive
wristwatch to ever leave the Saxon manufactory. The hand-crafted manually wound L903.0 calibre