Bonhams Paris Watches Preview at Prestigious Le Grand Palais Éphémère

ParisBonhams Paris Watches returns to the prestigious Le Grand Palais Éphémère on 1 February 2024 where a selection of watches will be on display. The 56-lot sale includes designs from houses including Cartier, Rolex, IWC, Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The watches will be auctioned at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Paris on 7 February.

Leading the sale is a rare Cartier Crash, 18K gold wristwatch, circa 1991. First created by Jean-Jacques Cartier in London in 1967, the legendary design features an asymmetric twisted and dented watch case that some find reminiscent of Salvador Dali's surrealist clocks in his work The Persistence of Memory. Urban legend had it that the inspiration came from a customer who arrived at Cartier's boutique to repair a watch case damaged in a car accident, neither of which are the reality, which was that the Crash was an astounding creation from the mind of Jean-Jaques Cartier. The Cartier Crash heading to auction, is offered with an estimate of €120,000-180,000.

Other notable lots include:

• An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, designed with a chronograph and powered by an automatic movement, circa 2004. This superb timepiece features a very rare salmon dial and is offered with an estimate of €100,000-150,000.

• A F.P. Journe Octa Lune crafted in platinum. The automatic timepiece has power reserve and moon phase, caliber 1300.3, circa 2008. Offered with an estimate of €45,000-65,000.

• An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch, circa 2023. The timepiece features a Grande Tapisserie green grid dial with polished baton hands and luminous inserts. Offered with an estimate of €35,000-45,000.

• A Roger Dubuis Hommage in platinum with a white dial, circa 2000. Featuring a perpetual calendar bi-retrograde chronograph with moon phase. The timepiece is offered with an estimate of €29,000-35,000.

Alexandre de Lamberterie, Bonhams Watches Specialist in Paris said: "It will be a privilege to showcase so many exceptional and sought-after collectible watches at the prestigious Le Grand Palais Éphémère ahead of the Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Paris live watches sale on February 7. The Cartier Crash is a particularly special timepiece that is a crowning jewel for the seasoned horology collector."

16 January 2023

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