Sotheby’s

A watcpocket watch, made in Geneva (circa 1893).

Christie’s

A 1959 pink-gold perpetual-calendar watch.

November 2009 Datebook

Bucking Convention

Miles of Aisles

My Brilliant Career: Lynda Benglis

Movers & Shakers

Remembrance of Things Past

Christopher Brown

Unfamiliar Territory

Conversation With RoseLee Goldberg

A Man of Many Stripes

Shattering Stereotypes

Rock Solid

Secret Stash

Elevating Iron

In the Air

Also This Month

Watteau Summer in the City: Group Shows The Discovery Game The Week That Was (March 21 – 28, 2008)

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GENEVA—In a sure sign of the current strength of the luxury-watch market, Geneva’s Raymond Weil is set to open four new boutiques worldwide in the months ahead, not long after inaugurating new branches in Dubai and Sofia, Bulgaria. Auction sales in the Swiss city are also robust: A thousand watches go under the hammer at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Antiquorum this month. (Watch-selling outfit Patrizzi & Co. nipped in ahead of the field on October 25.)

Christie’s offers watches in six countries, but Geneva remains the house’s most important location, accounting for 50 percent of its global sales in the category. The 380-lot auction on November 16 is estimated to fetch between SF16 million and SF18 million ($15.6-17.6 million). A private collection of 10 vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches is estimated to bring a combined SF3 million to SF4 million ($2.9-3.9 million), of which a 1959 pink-gold perpetual-calendar piece, is expected to contribute SF500,000 to SF800,000 ($487-779,000). "There are more buyers than sellers out there right now," says Aurel Bacs, international department head.

The 220-lot sale at Sotheby’s on November 15, estimated to earn SF4 million to SF6 million ($3.9-5.8 million), includes a collection of 40 gold pocket watches from the late 18th century, many with enamel reproductions of works by such artists as Watteau and Fragonard. Yet another pocket watch, made in Geneva circa 1893, (est. SF30-50,000; $29-49,000), piques interest because of its recipient: Ethiopian emperor Menelik II. A Patek Philippe yellow-gold perpetual-calendar chronograph, circa 1984 (est. SF320-450,000; $311-437,000), should be top lot. "It’s back to a collector’s market," says Sotheby’s specialist Geoffroy Ader.

Details of the 400-lot sale slated for November 14 and 15 at Antiquorum were unavailable at press time.

"Good Times" originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's November 2009 Table of Contents.