- Title: Time is money: `Asprey' may bring up to $4 million at auction
- Date: 7th November 2018
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 7, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PATEK PHILIPPE VINTAGE WATCH KNOWN AS "THE ASPREY" NEXT TO CATALOGUE PICTURE THE ASPREY IN CASE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES OF THE ASPREY THE ASPREY IN CASE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLOBAL HEAD OF SOTHEBY'S WATCH DIVISION, SAM HINES, SAYING: "This particular watch was first on the market in 2006 and sold by Sotheby's in Geneva for 2.2 million Francs, which made it the world record price for this particular reference. And since then, it's become a sort of legendary watch amongst collectors and the watch community. It is known simply as "The Asprey" and this is our star lot to be sold next Tuesday (November 13) night with a pre-sale auction estimate, excuse me, of 2 to 4 million Swiss Francs." VARIOUS OF THE ASPREY NEXT TO CATALOGUE PICTURE VARIOUS OF ASPREY IN CASE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLOBAL HEAD OF SOTHEBY'S WATCH DIVISION, SAM HINES, SAYING: "The watch is a perpetual calendar chronograph and it is unique in that it was retailed by the famous London retailer Asprey. The watch is in pristine condition, it has never been polished and it is the greatest quality one can find." SOTHEBY'S STAFF PUTTING ON THE ASPREY VARIOUS OF SOTHEBY'S STAFF WEARING THE ASPREY (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLOBAL HEAD OF SOTHEBY'S WATCH DIVISION, SAM HINES, SAYING: "I think we will have a lot of Asian interest because most of our strongest buyers today come from Asia. Asians have been lovers of watches for the past 200 years and Patek Philippe is the most sought-after watch brand." VARIOUS OF THE ASPREY ON DISPLAY
- Embargoed: 21st November 2018 13:20
- Keywords: luxury watch The Asprey Patek Philippe Sotheby's auction
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00195IC8K9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: "The Asprey", a legendary vintage Patek Philippe watch, will go on the auction block next week in Geneva, where it could fetch $2 million to $4 million, Sotheby's said on Wednesday (November 7).
Made in 1952 and sold four years later, the Swiss luxury wristwatch is the star lot among 250 watches and pocket watches on offer at Tuesday (November 13) evening's sale.
The original owner, whose initials, R.C., are engraved on the back of the watch's yellow gold case, probably received it for his 21st birthday, but has not been identified, the auction house said.
The current owner bought it at auction in 2006 for 2.2 million Swiss francs (now $2.21 million), a record for the reference at the time, Sotheby's said. Worn on a brown leather strap, it offers the day and date, a stop watch and phases of the moon. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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