Anchored by the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, we are pleased to offer other highly sought after watches from the Academy Award Winner’s Collection.&nbsp;

Anchored by the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, we are pleased to offer other highly sought after watches from the Academy Award Winner’s Collection.

Property from The Collection of Sylvester Stallone

Sotheby’s is pleased to have five remarkable collectors and entrepreneurs curate a selection of their favorite pieces from the Auction.

The New Faces of Collecting

New York

Sotheby’s New York is pleased to present our Important Watches auction, to be held on Wednesday June 5 2024 at 9am. Among its highlights is a selection of watches from the personal Collection of Sylvester Stallone including the revered Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime – the first 6300G to ever appear at auction.<br><br>The flagship sale also celebrates the best of both vintage and modern watches, like the Patek Philippe 2499, Patek Philippe 1436 ‘Pink on Pink’, and the Patek Philippe 5374G marking the first time the reference has ever appeared at auction. Alongside his Grandmaster Chime, Stallone is also offering the Panerai ‘Bronzo’ worn throughout <i>The Expendables 2</i> and the widely sought after Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 with ‘olive green’ dial and baguette diamond-set bezel. Provenance pieces also include a unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak that was commissioned by Bruno Mars and a 1917 Cartier belonging to General John J. Pershing.<br><br>Sale Number: N11527

Senior Vice President | Chairman | International Watch Division

Daryn Schnipper

Global Head of Watches

Geoff Hess

Senior Vice President | Senior Specialist | Watches Latin America

Richard Lopez

Senior Vice President | Senior Specialist | Watches & Clocks

Jonathon Burford

Senior Vice President | Global Head of Important Collections, Watches

Leigh Safar

Vice President, Specialist, Watches & Clocks

Vincent Brasesco

Associate Specialist, Watches & Clocks

Christina Bohn

Associate Cataloguer, Watches & Clocks

Daniel Tanenbaum

Auction Contacts

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:<br><br>+1 212 606 7000<br><span class="Enhancement" data-inline>
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Session 1

Session 2

Sotheby’s New York is pleased to present our Important Watches auction, to be held on Wednesday June 5 2024 at 9am. Among its highlights is a selection of watches from the personal Collection of Sylvester Stallone including the revered Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime – the first 6300G to ever appear at auction.

Important Watches

In the world of watch collecting, five prominent New York women have emerged as influential figures, reshaping the landscape of horology with their discerning tastes and passion for timepieces.<br><br>Sharing their passion for watches through social media, articles, and other platforms, Zoe Abelson, Malaika Crawford, J.J Owens, Trang Trinh, and Brynn Wallner challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about women’s involvement in a traditionally male-dominated hobby. Their presence and participation contribute to a more dynamic and inclusive watch community that celebrates the diverse interests and perspectives of all enthusiasts. Together, these five women represent the new faces of watch collecting, each bringing their own distinctive style and expertise to this timeless pursuit.<br><br>For the first time, Sotheby’s has gathered these five remarkable collectors and entrepreneurs to curate a selection of their favorite pieces from the Important Watches auction, sharing their insightful commentary to an ever-engaged global audience. We are delighted that this curation will bring their talents to an even wider audience – and help to build an even stronger community.

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                <h3>J.J. Owens, <i>Daily Grail</i></h3>

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        </div><br><br>Jessica, or as her friends call her “J.J.”, Owens has been collecting watches for more than half her life. Thanks to her father, J.J. took an interest in watches at age 12, first seeing through the lens of automobiles and James Bond; sparking her love of vintage timepieces. Having toyed with the idea of being everything from an architect to a forensic accountant, Owens landed on founding her media site, <i>Daily Grail</i>, a platform to make horology more approachable to the next generation via similar craft-based hobbies such as art, gastronomy, and fashion.<br><br><br><div class="Enhancement">
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    <blockquote class="EnhancedQuote-text" data-text-color="gold" >I love collecting because much like anything intriguing, the devil is almost always in the details...</blockquote>
    
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In honor of my father, the man who is solely responsible for my interest in horology, I have always worn my watch on my right wrist - as he is left-handed. Additionally, I love collecting because much like anything intriguing, the devil is almost always in the details and this white gold ref. 1803 is no exception. This 1968 Day-Date has everything, a pop of blue on the dial, a little sparkle on the bezel, and most impressively a crown situated specifically for those who are left-handed or those who just love their father.

Reference 1803 'Left-Handed' Day-Date | A white gold and diamond-set automatic wristwatch with day, date, and bracelet, Circa 1968

Though I genuinely believe any true collector isn’t loyal to just one brand, I stand firm on the fact that we all have our favorites and if I had to choose, Audemars Piguet has held the highest place for almost a decade. Having been my most worn model for years, the Royal Oak embodies the past and the present, even with its geometric design there’s a unique ease to the Royal Oak that is hard to compare. There is nothing like an oversized gold watch and when housed in the infamous Royal Oak case; it is pure magic. More specifically, “24k Gold Magic” as this limited piece was gifted by Bruno Mars to his crew after his 2018 world tour, as designated by the caseback engraving and initialed rotor.

Reference 15202BA.OO.1240BA.02.94 Royal Oak 'Bruno Mars 24K Magic World Tour' | A limited edition of eight yellow gold automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet, Gifted by Bruno Mars, Circa 2018

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                <h3>Trang Trinh, <i>Girl’s O’Clock</i></h3>

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        </div><br><br>Trang Trinh is the ringleader for the <i>Girls O’clock</i> community, a social media platform dedicated to discovering and appreciating the world of watches from a fashion-first lens. Coming from a fashion editorial background, Trinh dove into watches as a personal project, packaging her discoveries in the world of horology into snippy, digestible videos. Along the way, she found a community excited to learn alongside her. <i>Girls O’clock</i> now covers both vintage and newly released watches, where to buy them, and the stories that suffuse each timepiece.<br><br><div class="Enhancement">
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    <blockquote>The secret to great personal style... is the confidence to nurture unapologetic taste.</blockquote>
    
    
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I’ve long maintained that the secret to great personal style, an expression of identity— whether you want to show up as yourself or someone else today—is the confidence to nurture unapologetic taste. To know yourself entirely and deliberately reveal who you are. Cue: this yellow gold Rolex Day-Date “Pyramid” from a decade of flamboyance, quartz movements, and fun.

Reference 19028 Oysterquartz Day-Date 'Pyramid' | A yellow gold wristwatch with day, date and bracelet, Circa 1987

Timepieces have always carried an evocative layer of sentiment—a dimension that, once uncovered, reveals its emotional weight. When engraved, though, they bare it all. This enameled Cartier, complete with a handwritten message, feels especially intimate coming from the family of the original owner, American General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing. In it, the bond between two friends is immortalized, making it not only a timepiece of historical significance but also a symbol of enduring friendship.

An early and rare yellow gold and enamel square shaped bracelet watch, Given to the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force General John J. Pershing,  Circa 1917

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                <h3>Brynn Wallner, <i>Dimepiece</i></h3>

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        </div><br>Brynn Wallner is a NYC-based journalist and the founder of <i>Dimepiece</i>, a platform dedicated to women and watches. Her writing has appeared in <i>Financial Times</i>, <i>Vogue, GQ, Hodinkee, Harper’s Bazaar </i>and more.<br><br>This is the tale of two Pateks. I do not currently own a Patek Philippe watch, and I like it that way. For me, it is something to aspire to, something to work toward. Ask most watch people – or just ask Tania Edwards, the woman behind the famous “YOU NEVER ACTUALLY OWN A PATEK PHILIPPE. YOU MERELY LOOK AFTER IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION” slogan – and they will say that Patek Philippe is the world’s finest watchmaker… A (still) family-owned company dedicated to the highest standards in craftsmanship ensuring that whatever watch you’re lucky enough to wear will indeed endure for generations. Renowned for crazy complications like their notorious world timers, I have nonetheless chosen two time-only pieces from this sale as my favorites:

First up is Reference 3491/3: a 26mm yellow gold, angular piece that seems completely out of place against Patek’s contemporary catalog. It’s decidedly jewelry forward and yet would have likely been bought and worn by a man circa 1965, when this was retailed (by Cartier, no less! See the stamp). If you look at what the “cool guys” are wearing today – vintage stone dials, bracelet watches, ladies' Cartier Crashes – this sexy Patek, powered by a mechanical caliber 175 movement, feels urgently modern and would sit pretty on anyone’s wrist today (perhaps at next year’s Met Gala?). I just love the sharpness of the rectangular case, contrasted against the sensual textured bracelet and dial, which seamlessly appear as one. It evokes a romantic time in which design was not only prioritized, but boldly executed, and I hope the renewed popularity of deep-cut pieces like this will challenge the entire industry to go out of their comfort zone.

Reference 3491/3 | Retailed by Cartier: A yellow gold rectangular bracelet watch, Circa 1965

Next, we have a Nautilus, which is perhaps Patek Philippe’s most famous model. Designed by Gérald Genta (the mastermind also behind the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak), the Nautilus challenged the codes of the time and was flaunted as “One of the World’s Costliest Watches is Made of Steel” when its first iteration debuted in 1976. The Nautilus also happens to be one of the first watches I’d learned about when I dipped my toes into this magical world, working with Sotheby's editorial team (when you’re here, you’re family). Patek Philippe still sells Nautiluses (Nautili?!), but this particular reference – the discontinued 4700/4 – is what I affectionately refer to as a TTPPN (Teeny Tiny Patek Philippe Nautilus). Clocking in at just 27mm, she is teeny tiny but mighty: constructed of satisfyingly weighty platinum, which, to me, is one of the best flexes… Most people may think it’s steel, but <i>you</i> know it’s platinum. This diamond-set TTPPN is at once ultra-femme and loyal to its 42mm predecessor, complete even with the classic integrated bracelet that you sometimes sadly do not find on the ladies’ versions. Released circa 1985, this Nautilus is powered by a quartz battery (at this point, high horology learned to adapt with the “quartz crisis”), but, in this case, I don’t really mind. Sure, I’d love a high-end mechanical Patek movement, but that’s not why I’d wear this watch – I would wear it because it’s undeniably hot.

Reference 4700/4 Nautilus | A platinum and diamond-set wristwatch with date and bracelet, Circa 1985

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                <h3>Malaika Crawford, <i>Hodinkee</i></h3>

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        </div><br>Crawford is the Style Editor at <i>Hodinkee</i>, where she focuses primarily on style related content in hopes of broadening the watch space and converging fashion and watch audiences. Malaika is also a Wardrobe Stylist who has previously worked on VIP dressing with celebrities including Rihanna. Prior to her position at <i>Hodinkee</i> she was the Watch and Jewelry editor at <i>Highsnobiety</i> and Fashion Editor at <i>Interview Magazine</i>.<br><br><br><div class="Enhancement">
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    <blockquote class="EnhancedQuote-text" data-text-color="gold" >I see Patek as the clear victor of elegant ingenuity during that period [1970s].</blockquote>
    
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This Cartier-Jaeger LeCoultre hybrid Reverso from the 1940s is a cool example of the history between the two brands. JLC did not only produce movements for Cartier (among countless other brands), they also produced Cartier branded versions of their watches (like this one) for the French maison. This close working relationship proved fruitful during the mid 20th century and resulted in watches with an interesting twist like this rare example Reverso.

Reverso | A rare stainless steel rectangular reversible wristwatch, Circa 1940

The 1970s design storyline was most obviously an action/reaction to the Quartz Revolution. In the face of new technology Swiss brands had no choice but to get experimental. I see Patek as the clear victor of elegant ingenuity during that period. This yellow gold bracelet watch ref.3491 proves how they could make bold choices while remaining somewhat refined. The continuity of the pattern from bracelet to dial turns the overall essence of the watch into a sculptural unit. And it’s stamped Cartier to boot!

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                <h3>Zoe Abelson, <i>Watchgirloffduty</i></h3>

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        </div><br>Zoe Abelson has worked in the watch industry for over a decade now, establishing herself as a trusted expert with a global edge. Zoe founded the company, Graal, a one stop destination to source and sell timepieces. She specializes in rare vintage and modern timepieces from avant-garde and traditional watchmakers. In addition to being a watch dealer, Zoe has forged a popular online presence as <i>@watchgirloffduty</i> on social media. Looking to share her passion for luxury timepieces, she also created a watch enthusiast community called <i>Off Duty</i> that has connected over 600 people around the world.

To put it lightly, I have a Day-Date obsession. From the start of my career, I’ve always seen the Day-Date as a dream watch and could even see myself having a full collection of only Day-Dates in different varieties. I love how there are so many different variations in the dial in terms of material (stone dials), colors (“stella dials”), textures, and gem set designs. Coming from a brand that arguably focuses on sports models, it’s a perfect part of the Rolex family that allows the brand to get a little... funky. This lot is an example of how Rolex gets to play around with gem setting, all while still being a very wearable watch. Although dressy in nature, I’d love to wear this with a casual outfit and let it stand out (as it deserves.)

Reference 18048 Day-Date | A yellow gold and diamond and sapphire-set automatic wristwatch with day, date, and bracelet, Circa 1984

I will admit this is an unusual choice for me normally, but as my collecting journey continues to surprise me, I’m on an art deco ladies watch kick right now. Did you know that the wristwatch was originally designed for women? Even so, it was considered “mauvais ton” (bad mannered) for a woman to look at the time. Knowing that, you’ll start to notice that watches from this era are more like pieces of jewelry in design and have hidden dials. Often overlooked, many of these watches have tiny mechanical movements that fascinate me. This lot is visually stunning, but my favorite part is the tiny dial and movement that is a pleasant surprise when you open the concealment.