NEWS12/2015

With the anniversary year coming to a close, Dr. Crott Auctioneers held their 92nd auction on November 14, 2015. As for the two-day anniversary auction in May, a large number of lovers of fi ne timepieces had arrived at the Skyloft at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel; the collectors happily took the opportunity on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to view and inspect all the lots. Three weeks ago they had received the exten-sive catalogue describing the 549 lots that were called up by auctioneer Stefan Muser during the auction on Saturday afternoon. The Skyloft only just had enough seats to accommodate the large number of connois-seurs and collectors who eagerly awaited the start of the auction at 12 noon.

After a number of pocket and aviator watches, the fi rst serous bidding war took place over a Panerai compass dating from World War II (lot 26), which came to a close at 7,200 euros. Then there were a rare set of chronometers produced for scientifi c and military purposes by Loebner of Berlin (lot 28) and a minute tourbillon by Alfred Drie-sel mann (lot 34), an important gentle-man’s wristwatch in a set with two other unfi nished watches of the same type fetching a price of 111,600 euros.

Press Release of the 92nd auction on November 14, 2015

Lot 59, Astronomical precision regulator, Clemens Riefl er no. 591Sold for 68,200 euros

Lot 34, Minute tourbillon, Alfred DrieselmannSold for 111,600 euros

Lot 34, Minute tourbillon,

Dr. CrottAuktionen4 Years

Dr. CrottAuktionen4 Years

Lot 55, a remarkable small marine chronometer by Louis Berthoud, was knocked down for 70,700 euros. Delivered to the Dutch Navy on Decem-ber 1, 1800 as the fi rst of only seven chronometers of this type, the piece is equipped with a regulator dial and Berthoud’s pivoted detent escapement. An exceptional precision regulator of museum quality by Joseph Thaddäus Winnerl with a 45 day power reserve and upside down pendulum lever es-capement (lot 56) was knocked down for 60,800 euros. Shortly afterwards a magnifi cent rare compression wave resistant submarine chronometer by Gerhard D. Wempe with external hand setting and external winder (lot 57) fetched the sum of 19,840 euros. The astronomical precision regulator no. 591 by Clemens Riefl er with gravity escapement, electric winding and sec-onds contact device (lot 59) found its new home for a price of 68,200 euros; this piece came with a spare pendulum still in its original packaging.

An ornamental pair-cased carriage clock studded with gems created by John Bittleston and featuring a compass, a calendar and a lever for stopping the centre seconds (lot 94) was sold for 29,760 euros. Lot 95 was a very fi ne and extremely rare enamel singing bird box by Abraham Bruguier / Frères Rochat à Genève dating from 1855 that was knocked down well above its estimate for 74,400 euros. This box is all the more impressive because of its perfectly preserved gilding, the exquisite engraving and outstanding minia-ture painting as well as its automaton that is in perfect working order.

Lot 55, Marine chonometer, Louis Berthoud no. 48Sold for 70,700 euros

Lot 95, Singing bird box, Bruguier / Frères RochatSold for 74,400 euros

Lot 56, Precision regulator, Winnerl no. 237Sold for 60,800 euros

The important and extremely rare gold enamel and half-pearl studded „Montre Médaillon de Souscription à Tact“ cre-ated by Abraham Louis Breguet (lot 116) fetched 72,000 euros. The fi rst Rolex wristwatch of the day was lot 118, a magnifi cent rare rosé gold Day-Date ref. 6511 – one of only two known examples in the world – which was knocked down for 89,300 euros. Just after, three early Rolex Explorer watches dating from 1951 (ref. 6098), 1956 (ref. 6610) and 1958 (ref. 5504) came up for sale. A remarkable sale was that of the gold Rolex „Daytona“ chrono-graph (lot 123): called up without estimate, this watch fetched the sum of 76,800 euros.

Lot no. 145 was without doubt one of the major highlights of the 92nd auction and fetched the highest selling price of the day. Once again the rare reference 6263 lived up to its cult status; created by Rolex, the distinctive watch with the „Paul Newman Panda Dial“ and the black bezel with tachy scale was knocked down by auctioneer Stefan Muser for 210,800 euros.

Lot 118, Rolex ref. 6511 Day-Date PrototypSold for 89,300 euros

Lot 145, Rolex ref. 6263 „Oyster Cosmograph Paul Newman Panda Dial“Sold for 210,800 euros

Lot 116, Breguet „Montre Médaillon à Tact“

Sold for 72,000 euros

Dr. CrottAuktionen4 Years

An Ilbery movement is always a guarantee for an excellent re-sult, as proven during this auction. A gold enamel pocket watch produced around 1820 for the Chinese market fetched a proud 90,600 euros. Lot 210, one of the earliest known carriage clocks by Benjamin Pichard à Paris was sold for 52,100 euros. Lot 220, an important gold and enamel verge pocket watch of museum quality by Michael Hoffrichter, stayed just under 100,000 euros – it was knocked down for 99,200 euros. That line was crossed a little later by lot 222, a verge pocket watch created by Pierre Lagisse (maker) and Pierre Huaud I. (enameler) that fetched 136,400 euros.

Lot 210, Carriage clock with hour strike and alarm, Benjamin Pichard à ParisSold for 51,100 euros

Lot 220, Gold and enamel verge pocket watch of museum quality, Michael HoffrichterSold for 99,200 euros

Lot 538, Pair-cased verge pocket watch, Thomas Tompion / Edward BangerSold for 99,200 euros

Lot 111, Gold and enamel pocket watch produced for the Chinese market, Ilbery, LondonSold for 90,600 euros

The last highlight of the 92nd auction was a pair-cased verge pocket watch of museum quality, produced by Thomas Tompion / Edward Banger early in the 18th century. Lot 538 bears the en-graved coat of arms of John Spencer-Churchill, 3rd Duke of Marlborough and was sold for 99,200 euros.

In the new year Dr. Crott Auctioneers will start accepting consignments for the 93rd auction, which will take place on May 14, 2016 at the Skyloft at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel.

Dr. CrottAuktionen4 Years

Lot 222, Gold and enamel verge pocket watch of museum quality, Pierre LagisseSold for 136,400 euros