Despite the pandemic, the Rolex Paul Newman auction is still hot! Two highlights of Sotheby’s online auction

Sotheby’s “Watches Weekly” themed online auction, which was launched on April 1 and lasts for a week, has a small number of lots in each auction, with the smallest auction having only 19 lots, but it has already shown a brilliant performance, proving that even if the epidemic affects economic activities and economic activities are negative, as long as the style is right, classic watches still have a stable market.
For example, the first auction lot numbered Lot 4, Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6241, was estimated at HK$ 1,000,000-2,000,000, and was finally sold at HK$ 2,375,000 (about NT$9.27 million), which was higher than the estimated price. According to Sotheby’s data, Ref. 6241 was only produced from 1965 to 1969, with a very limited production of only about 2,700 pieces, and the number of styles with Paul Newman dials was even rarer. The 6241 that appeared in the auction this time was manufactured around 1968 and is in very good condition. Not only are the metal parts such as the case and lugs in good condition, but even the luminous hour markers that are easily oxidized and fall off are also intact. Therefore, it was sold at a high price after 12 bids.

Other outstanding models in this online auction by Sotheby’s include Patek Philippe’s Nautilus Ref. 5711P, which was estimated at HK$ 3,000,000-5,000,000 and finally sold for HK$ 3,750,000, setting a record for the highest price of online watch auctions. Patek Philippe’s 5711 is a popular model in the market, and the number of platinum 5711P is even smaller, said to be only 30 to 50, which are made specifically for the brand’s top collectors. The dial is specially made of blue jeans, and a diamond is set between the lugs at 6 o’clock to represent the platinum material.

The “Watches Weekly” model seems to be working quite successfully. Following the four-phase auction in April, including “Rolex and Audemars Piguet” from April 1 to 8, “Patek Phileppe” from April 8 to 15, “A. Lange & Söhne and No Reserve” from April 15 to 22, and “FP Journe, Piaget & The Atmos Clock” from April 22 to 29, the schedule for May and June can also be seen on the Sotheby’s official website.

There are four online theme auctions in April, and the schedule for May and June has also appeared on the Sotheby’s official website.