The 6^th auction of The Champion Collection promises to keep the momentum up in the series of record-setting sales that are making horological history

THE CHAMPION COLLECTION PART VI: ‘THE FINEST WATCHMAKING’

Live Sale – Single Owner | 27 November 2022 | 82 lots | Total low estimate: HK$ 49 million

7pm Hong Kong Time | Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Hong Kong, 18 October 2022 – One of three significant sales that Christie’s Hong Kong is proud to present this Autumn, Part VI of The Champion Collection, entitled ‘The Finest Watchmaking’, unveils collectors with a treasure-house of stunning horological artworks.

The Live Sale on the evening of November 27^th will feature 82 lots, among which brilliant cloisonné dial masterpieces by Patek Philippe, rare and highly complicated wristwatches by Lange & Söhne and Greubel Forsey, and a breath-taking full set of four of Vacheron Constantin’s first ‘Tribal Masks’ series.

The Champion Collection

Comprising close to 450 modern and contemporary significant and iconic timepieces by all the major watch brands, The Champion Collection was formed over the course of nearly 20 years by a prominent private collector whose discernment, excellent taste and deep appreciation of the highest level of horology can now be shared with collectors worldwide. The Maisons represented in The Champion Collection include Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Panerai and Vacheron Constantin.

Christie’s Hong Kong, working closely with the collector, curated the vast array of exceptional timepieces into 6 thematically distinct sales over a period of 12 months.

The Top 5 lots, Patek Philippe

Highly complicated wristwatches

Métiers d’Art masterpieces by Patek Philippe

Vacheron Constantin’s Les Masques – the fabled ‘Tribal Mask’ collection

It is Christie’s great privilege to offer one of the extremely rare full sets of four timepieces from the first ‘Tribal Mask’ series of Vacheron Constantin’s breath-taking Métiers d’Art collection introduced in 2007. No doubt among the brightest highlights of The Champion Collection, these spectacular watches represent watchmaking art at its most refines: the masks are entirely hand-crafted by artisans of the highest calibre, at the height of their mastery of precious materials and decorative techniques.

Indeed, métiers d’art refers to the select crafts in watchmaking that have the reached the status of art form. The finish of the gold masks, captured in amazing detail, faithfully reproduces the original masks that served as models and are exhibited at the Barbier-Muller Museum in Geneva. The outstanding watchmaking skills displayed by Vacheron Constantin transform Les Masques into wearable masterpieces of outstanding beauty.

Only 25 highly exclusive sets were made in 2007; further sets of four watches were produced in 2008 and 2009. Each set features four different masks so that, over those three years, a total of 12 timepieces were produced. Both exciting and noteworthy: as one of the world’s greatest watch collectors, the owner of The Champion Collection acquired one of each of the three complete sets of four. Starting with the 2007 set offered in this auction, the sets made in 2008 and 2009 will follow in future sales. Each ‘Mask’ is offered for sale individually.

Lot 2248 - Vacheron Constantin. An impressive and extremely rare 18k gold limited edition automatic wristwatch with day, date and 18k gold hand engraved micro sculpture of a Chinese Qidan antique mask from the Barbier-Muller Museum, Metiers d’Arts Les Masques model 2007 edition, Ref. 86070/000j-9294, circa 2008

(Est: HK$400,000-800,000)

Lot 2251 - Vacheron Constantin. An impressive and extremely rare platinum limited edition automatic wristwatch with day, date and 18k gold hand engraved micro sculpture of a Congo Mahongwe antique mask from the Barbier-Muller Museum, Metiers d’Arts Les Masques model 2007 edition, Ref. 86070/000p-9296, circa 2008

(Est: HK$400,000-800,000)

Lot 2249 - Vacheron Constantin. An impressive and extremely rare 18k pink gold limited edition automatic wristwatch with day, date and 18k gold hand engraved micro sculpture of an Indonesian Wayang Topeng antique mask from the Barbier-Muller Museum, Metiers d’Arts Les Masques model 2007 edition, Ref. 86070/000r-9297, circa 2008

(Est: HK$400,000-800,000)

Lot 2250 - Vacheron Constantin. An impressive and extremely rare 18k white gold limited edition automatic wristwatch with day, date and 18k gold hand engraved micro sculpture of an Alaskan Tlingit Indian antique mask from the Barbier-Muller Museum, Metiers d’Arts Les Masques model 2007 edition, Ref. 86070/000g-9295, circa 2008

(Est: HK$400,000-800,000)

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