The upcoming two-day auction by Ineichen Auctioneers (November 20-21) will see over 200 rare watches on the block, from brands including Vianney Halter, Audemars Piguet, A. Lange & Söhne, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, F.P. Journe and URWERK.

On both days, the auction is separated into two sessions. The first session on November 20 (1300-1500 Zurich time, or GMT+2) is dedicated to vintage and pocket watches. This is followed by the second session (1600 Zurich time) “Alchemy of Gold” on watches in yellow metals.

The following day on November 21, the first session (1300-1500 Zurich time) was dedicated to modern wristwatches, followed at 1600 Zurich time with “17 Shades of Gray”, a special auction of watches in tantalum, platinum and steel.

Highlights include the following:

Vianney Halter

Not one but two samples of the Antiqua by Vianney Halter will be auctioned. The Vianney Halter Antiqua Yellow Gold has an estimated price of CHF 50,000 – CHF 100,000; the Vianney Halter Antiqua White Gold has an estimated price of CHF 50,000 – CHF 100,000. The Antiqua displays the full suite of perpetual calendar information including leap year via a quartet of riveted portholes of varying diameters, styled after the fashion of nautical instruments, yet with its own cubist-esque spin that seems to have stepped out of a Jules Verne novel. The effect remains as refreshing and stunning as when Vianney Halter first revealed them two decades ago in 1998.

F. P. Journe

The auction lots include three watches from F. P. Journe. The F. P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Ruthenium Collection is but one of 99 pieces presented from 2001 to 2003. In 950 platinum case, it features a matt textured solid gold dial with dark grey ruthenium coating, the hand-wound Résonance caliber 1499.3, the last of F. P. Journe’s production movements in brass. Estimated price: CHF 100,000 – CHF 200,000.

The F. P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Ruthenium Collection is part of a numbered and limited edition of 99 pieces. No more than 520 Tourbillon Souverain watches were ever produced, including those in the Ruthenium Collection. Estimated price: CHF 100,000 – CHF 200,000.

Of the F. P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain de Boulle, just eight watches were supplied to the authorized Dallas retailer, de Boulle Diamond & Jewelry, in the US in 2007, with two more delivered for owner Denis de Boulle and a company director. The watch being auctioned belonged to the owner. Estimated price: CHF 50,000 – CHF 100,000.

Audemars Piguet

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ref. 25820TP is among the rarest of this model, cased in platinum and tantalum, one of a limited edition of just 15 pieces. With matte non-tapiserrie dial, and leap year indication. Estimated price: CHF 100,000 – CHF 200,000.

With elaborate hand guilloche dial in platinum case, the Audemars Piguet Star Wheel Automatic Ref. 25720PT was introduced in a numbered and limited edition of nine pieces. According to the auctioneer, it is the only Audemars Piguet watch to its knowledge that features the limited edition number on its dial.

Ineichen Auctioneers hosts multiple auctions per year, traditionally in May and November. The next upcoming auction is scheduled to take place in mid February 2022. Founded in 1973, Ineichen Auctioneers currently ranks second on sales among Swiss watch auction houses. The full auction catalogue is available here.