Important Watches: Featuring "Kronos: Titans of Time", "The Eternity" and "The Chronicle" Collections

This spring season, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Christie’s in Asia and our position as watch market leaders in Asia, this Important Watches auction in Hong Kong brings together a truly sensational line up of some the world’s collectable and desired timepieces.

Three remarkable individual private collections of world-class modern wristwatches form the cornerstone of the sale. Assembled with an unwavering eye for the very best, the ‘Kronos: Titans of Time Collection’, named appropriately after the Greek god of time, is one of the highest average lot value collections to appear in watches auction, reaching a total low estimate exceeding HKD 100,000,000. Amongst it includes a full set example of one of the most important wristwatches ever to have been made in modern history - Patek Philippe’s ‘Sky Moon Tourbillon’ Ref. 5002P-001, reserved only for their most important clients. So special is this grandest of Grande Complication timepieces that prospective buyers were required not only to submit an application but also to be interviewed in person before qualifying even for the waiting list. Naturally, the owner of the ‘Kronos: Titans of Time Collection’ is one of the world’s great watch collectors and therefore the collection includes other highly important watches by Patek Philippe such as the Tourbillon Minute Repeater reference 5207P, another of Patek's most complicated models, featuring a minute repeater, a tourbillon, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar. We are extremely pleased to offer the first installment of the collection this May, with accelerated anticipation for the second installment.

Complementing these exceptional works of horological art, we are delighted to announce Part 3 of the superb ‘The Eternity Collection’, a deeply personal assemblage curated by the collector since the 1990s, it follows on from the great successes of Parts 1 and 2, that were offered over the 2025 season. Standout pieces include the exceedingly rare Patek Philippe pink gold reference 5013R, the first Patek minute repeater with automatic movement, this Grande Complication of which only around 100 examples were made also features a perpetual calendar with retrograde date and moon phase. A great Audemars Piguet Royal Oak rarity, the Openworked Perpetual Calendar reference 25636 in stainless steel has acquired the status of precious metal in its desirability to collectors, produced in 1994 as one of the first few examples of the reference in stainless steel, and we are excited to be able to offer one of these as part of ‘The Eternity Collection’.

We are proud to offer the fourth instalment of ‘The Chronicles Collection’, an exquisite private collection largely devoted to Patek Philippe’s modern complicated wristwatches. A treasure trove of contemporary and modern rare timepieces from the greatest of the Geneva watch houses, it offers rich pickings for both collectors and those looking for highly wearable classics.

Supporting these three highly important collections are some equally important and ultra-rare timepieces from various individual owners. Enhancing an already formidable offering of Patek Philippe is an extraordinary collection that brings together a group of 6 different reference 3940 varying in different metals spanning the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd series of the model from its launch in 1985 until production ceased in 2007. The 3940’s reputation is further enhanced by the fact that the then head of the company, Philippe Stern, chose to wear the model as his everyday watch. We are particularly excited to offer a so far only known example of 3940 signed Beyer with Doré dial and without an individual number, one of the hottest neo-vintage wristwatches for collectors today.

François-Paul Journe is without question one of the most inventive and important contributors to modern watchmaking. He is also widely regarded as the greatest living watchmaker. Here we are fortunate to be able to offer collectors some of F.P. Journe’s rarest and most fascinating complicated timepieces ranging from the now iconic Tourbillon Souverain to the technically remarkable and totally exclusive platinum Black Label Chronmètre à Résonance, nicknamed the ‘Parking Meter’ due to the design of the left-hand sub dial, it was only available to existing clients of the brand.

This auction is outstanding in offering many of the most desired complicated and hard to find timepieces by the greatest watch brands. We hope that it will enthrall and inspire both new and established collectors who will have the opportunity to obtain watches, many of which, have been the prize possessions of notable private collectors and never offered for sale before.

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