Exclusive Timepieces 22 – 23 April 2023 | Monaco
Auction Details
The Monaco Legend Group team has put together an astonishing selection of rarities in the horological field. From the Unique Piece Rolex Yachtmaster, former property of the late President of Rolex Patrick Heiniger, to an outstanding example of the Patek Philippe 2523-1. Not to mention the great selection of rarities destined for Middle Eastern market, such as a Rolex Submariner and Daytona from the Sultanate of Oman and a steel Daytona with UAE emblem on the dial.
Many thanks to Auro Montanari, alias John Goldberger, Roberto Randazzo and George Pakkos for their significant help in supervising the catalogue and to Eric Tortella for his assistance in searching for some of our rarest Patek Philippe watches in his database and releasing his passport of authenticity for them.
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Session I: Saturday 22 April, 2:30 PM – lots 1 to 100
Session II: Sunday 23 April, 10:30 AM – lots 101 to 164
Session III: Sunday 23 April, 2:30 PM – lots 165 to 261
15 Cartier Fresh to the Market, Extremely Rare and Outstanding, London Oval Maxi, Curved Shape Wristwatch, in Yellow Gold, With Argentè Roman Numbers Dial
Estimate: € 100,000 – 200,000
Sold € 273,000
Model: Oval Maxi
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1968
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 840
Case N°: 10759 - 8408
Movement N°: 1 938 468
Dimensions: 30 x 57 mm
Signed: Dial, Case and Movement
The present lot is a magnificent exponent of the Oval Maxi family, whose daring design pays tribute to the era of the mid-20th century in London, a time of modern and inspirational innovations. Its extremely generous dimensions with a curved case that could wrap a male wrist represent something totally unconventional for the time and even today could be considered as the non-plus ultra of attractiveness and baldness in watchmaking. The slender case of the present lot has been manufactured in yellow gold and has been preserved in fair and gorgeous conditions with very deep and clearly visible numbers and hallmarks on the back. The dial has the classical Cartier layout with argentè background with painted big black “exploding” Roman numerals. During the 1960s, Audemars Piguet and Jaeger LeCoultre made movements for the iconic jewelry company, Cartier, which sourced the best quality movements to meet their highest quality standards. The present example is fitted with the caliber K 840, a movement made by Jaeger LeCoultre specifically for the model. All the handmade production from the London workshops was very limited and as such they very rarely come to auction, moreover, the case back shows the London hallmark for 1968. It is interesting to notice that the model, back in the days, was originally sold for around 375 (British) pounds through Cartier’s London Bond Street boutique.