We are seeing stars this November in Hong Kong as Christie’s gears up for its fall auctions. Following its blockbuster performance earlier this year in May, the auction house is once again bringing out the heavy hitters for this season’s sales. Throw in the occasion of a 40th anniversary celebration, and the party gets even bigger.

To mark 40 glorious years in Asia, Christie’s has announced two eye-watering auctions — The Iconic 40 Watches Evening Sale taking place on November 25, and the Important Watches: Featuring “Kronos: Titans of Time” Part 2 on November 26.

Says Harmmond Wong, Head of Watches Department, Christie’s Asia Pacific, “As Christie’s celebration of 40 years in Asia reaches its pinnacle this year, our vision was to curate something truly extraordinary—bringing together exceptional timepieces and legendary single-owner collections that represent the very best of watchmaking across generations.”

With a combined low estimate of over USD 42 million across more than 300 lots, this is the highest-ever seasonal total auction estimate for watches in Asia. Without a doubt, three of the biggest names across both sales are Patek Philippe, F.P. Journe and Cartier. Here’s what to look out for from this season’s blockbusters.

Patek Philippe

The Sky Moon Tourbillon Refs. 5002 and 6002 are the undisputed headliners of the season. This is the first time that the two successive generations of the Sky Moon Tourbillon have been brought together at auction. Launched in 2001, the Ref. 5002 marked several firsts for Patek Philippe. It was the maison’s first serially produced double-faced grand complication wristwatch, its first astronomical wristwatch, and its most complicated wristwatch at the time.

Patek Philippe Ref. 5002R Sky Moon Tourbillon (Credit: Christie’s Images)

Developed alongside the stunning super complicated Star Caliber, the Ref. 5002 features 12 complications packed into a 42.8mm case, including a minute repeater with cathedral gongs that each wrap around the circumference of the movement almost twice, a perpetual calendar with retrograde date, moon age and moonphase indications, sidereal time and a celestial chart depicting the movement of the northern sky. Indications are spread across its dual dials, making it effectively two watches in one: mean solar time, calendar and moon age on the front, while celestial displays and sidereal time appear on the back. To date, it remains one of Patek Philippe’s most iconic wristwatches, and among its most coveted.

Patek Philippe Ref. 6002G-010 Sky Moon Tourbillon in platinum (Credit: Christie’s Images)

The Ref. 6002 shares much of the technical architecture of its predecessor. But while the latter is sleek, elegant and relatively restrained in design, the Ref. 6002 is gloriously ornate, a stunning showcase of the maison’s savoir-faire with its intricate hand-engraved case and dial decorated with champlevé and cloisonné enamel.

Both watches are from the private, single-owner Kronos: Titans of Time collection of 23 watches that Christie’s Hong Kong is auctioning across its spring and fall auctions in 2026. They follow the platinum Ref. 5002P-001, which sold for USD 1.8 million in May, setting a new Christie’s record for this reference. It goes without saying that both are exceedingly rare and sought after, so expect bidding to be intense.

Patek Philippe Ref. 6002P-001 Sky Moon Tourbillon in platinum (Credit: Christie’s Images)

Collectors of vintage Patek Philippe watches are also in for a treat. A clutch of exceptionally rare watches is going under the hammer, such as the Ref. 1579 in stainless steel, a holy grail amongst Patek vintage collectors, with only seven known examples. There is also a pair of beauties in pink gold, both dating back to 1941. The Ref. 1518 is one of Patek’s most important references and its first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch; the Ref. 1526 is the maison’s first serially produced perpetual calendar wristwatch. Steel examples of both references have achieved record-breaking prices elsewhere at auction, so we’ll be watching to see how high bidders will go for pink gold.

Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Chronograph with Tachymeter Scale and “Spider Lugs” Ref. 1579A (Credit: Christie’s Images)

This season also brings some exceptional gem-set lots, such as the Ref. 5271/13P-001 perpetual calendar chronograph in platinum, set with baguette-cut emeralds; a possibly unique Ref. 6104/12G-010 Celestial in a white gold case paired with a ruby-set bezel; and a rare Ref. 5130P/13P-010 World Time in platinum, set with a ring of baguette-cut emeralds.

F.P. Journe

Collector appetite for F.P. Journe has been insatiable both on and off the auction circuit. As to just how far his star will soar remains to be seen, especially with this latest cache from Christie’s due to go on the block later this November.

All eyes are on the Tourbillon Souverain, the model with which François-Paul Journe launched his eponymous brand in 1999. Arguably his most famous wristwatch, the Tourbillon Souverain also marks the first time a remontoir d’égalité is integrated with a tourbillon in a wristwatch. Journe took the idea a step further with the second-generation Tourbillon Souverain à seconde morte, adding a seconds hand that advanced in discrete one-second steps. It won the Aiguille d’Or, the highest honors at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, in 2004. This particular example features a striking ruby hardstone dial and belongs to the second generation, produced between 2003 and 2018, with deadbeat seconds at 6 o’clock. It is ultra-rare, being one of only 20 platinum examples ever produced.

F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Model, Case No. 758-TN, circa 2019 (Credit: Christie’s Images)

Another keenly watched lot is the early Chronomètre à Résonance “Pre-Souscription” in platinum, with case No. 056/00R, which last appeared at auction more than 15 years ago in 2000. Journe’s quest for resonance is one of tenacity and conviction, and has been beautifully told by Revolution founder Wei Koh in his story, “The Bravest Watch in History.” Previous examples of the Chronomètre à Résonance have performed exceptionally well at auction, so expect spirited bidding for this collector-favorite 38mm example in Hong Kong.

Another lot guaranteed to pique the interest of Journe collectors: a Centigraphe Souverain, circa 2012, made even more special with its Black Label status. Journe’s ingenious take on the chronograph, the Centigraphe Souverain calculates elapsed times from 1/100th of a second to 10 minutes, via three subdials that function as 1/100th-of-a-second, 20-second and 10-minute registers. Black Label, meanwhile, designates an exclusive collection of watches in platinum with black-lacquered dials, made in extremely limited quantities, typically two pieces per model per year, and reserved for existing F.P. Journe watch owners.

Cartier

It did anything but crash at the spring auctions earlier in the year. Instead, the Cartier Crash soared to new heights as one of the maison’s most sought-after and iconic models with  its distinctive distorted case and stretched Roman numerals. Two Cartier Crash watches will be up for auction at Christie’s November auctions. The first is an elegant bespoke piece with an 18K pink gold case paired with an inky black dial, commissioned through the maison’s NSO program. NSO stands for New Special Order, and under its auspices, Cartier’s top clients get to customize some details of the design. The second, meanwhile, comes in white gold festooned with diamonds and sapphires.

Another key Cartier lot on the block is the diamond-set Mystery Clock in 18K white gold from 2007. First created by clockmaker Maurice Couët for Cartier and unveiled in 1912, mystery clocks have long enchanted collectors and watch lovers. They rely on optical illusion and mechanical ingenuity to present hands that float unfettered in mid-air, seemingly defying logic. This present lot is a pièce unique with an eight-day power reserve, and comes adorned with emeralds, sapphires, gray diamonds et al, presided over by a panther set with diamonds.

Cartier Mystery Clock with 8 days power reserved (Credit: Christie’s Images)

“Watching Asia evolve into one of the most sophisticated horological centres in the world has been an incredible privilege,” says Alexandre Bigler, Senior International Specialist and Head of Collections, Watches Department, Christie’s. “Today’s collectors look far beyond brand prestige; they seek out extreme rarity, technical mastery, and impeccable provenance. These two landmark auctions are a tribute to that journey, and we are immensely proud to present these defining masterpieces to our community in Asia and beyond.”

The Iconic 40 Watches Evening Sale will be taking place on November 25, 2026, and the Important Watches: Featuring “Kronos: Titans of Time” Part 2 on November 26, 2026. To browse the sales, follow the lots and place bids, visit Christie’s.

Auction Previews
Hong Kong | 18-25 November |
Christie’s Asia Pacific Headquarters, 6th Floor, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central

Live Auctions
Hong Kong | Christie’s Asia Pacific Headquarters, 6th Floor, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central
25 November | The Iconic 40 Watches Evening Live Sale
26 November | Important Watches Live Sale

Contact +852 2760 1766 | infoasia@christies.com
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