World record for A. Lange & Söhne helps Sotheby’s to “most valuable” sale in a decade
Auction house Sotheby’s has recorded what it describes as its most valuable watch sale for more than a decade.
The Geneva ‘Important Watches Sale,’ which took place last Sunday at the Mandarin Hotel, saw sales totalling $19.3 million.
The sale had over 120 lots with 1,500 people registered to bid, and the highlight was a rare A. Lange & Söhne Grande Complication Pink Gold Clock Watch made in 1916, which made the most money on the day by fetching an enormous $2,060,656 — a world record for any of the references from the brand.
“It is an immense pleasure to have curated, together with our brilliant global watch team, a sale that has been so warmly embraced by collectors from around the world,” said Clara Kessi, head of watches at Sotheby’s Geneva.
“The energy in the room last night — marked by strong participation and an unmistakable sense of enthusiasm — was a clear reflection of this global engagement,” she continued.
“That the sale now ranks among the highest results achieved for an Important Watches auction at Sotheby’s Geneva in over a decade is both a testament to the strength of the market and to the quality of the pieces we carefully assembled.
“Demand remains strong, but increasingly selective, with collectors showing a clear preference for rarity, provenance, and exceptional condition across all value levels.”
Another key feature of the sale was The Shapes of Cartier Part 2, following the successful Part 1 in Hong Kong. Part 3 of the individual collection in New York is coming up next month.
