AuctionsMay 12, 2022
‘The Rock,’ the Biggest White Diamond Ever Put Up for Auction, Sells for $22M AuctionsMay 13, 2022
Famed Watch Designer Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak Sells for $2.1M
It became the most valuable vintage Audemars Piguet watch ever sold at auction, according to Sotheby’s.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak once owned by watch designer Gerald Genta, featuring an 18-karat yellow gold bezel Genta produced and added himself, sold for $2.1 million at Sotheby’s Geneva this week.
Geneva—Sotheby’s put the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch once owned by famed designer Gerald Genta on the auction block, and it was a hit.
The watch went up for auction in the “Important Watches: Part I” sale in Geneva on May 10, where it sold for approximately $2.1 million at current exchange rates, making it the most valuable vintage Audemars Piguet ever sold at auction, according to Sotheby’s.
Eight bidders competed for almost six minutes before a Swiss collector made the winning bid.
Audemars Piguet first launched the Royal Oak in 1972, revolutionizing the industry as the first luxury sports watch to be made of steel.
The wristwatch features a date component and an octagonal bezel with eight screws.
Genta designed the Royal Oak overnight, drawing his inspiration from a childhood memory of seeing a man being sealed into an old-fashioned diving suit near the Mont Blanc bridge in Geneva.
The circa 1978 Royal Oak watch that went to auction was unique, because it not only marked the first time a Genta-owned watch went to auction, but also because it had the unique specification of an 18-karat yellow gold bezel Genta produced and added himself at his Swiss workshop.
Its sale came as part of a series bringing to market 100 original watch designs from Genta’s personal archives, each paired with an NFT.
The first auction in the “Icon of Time” series was held in Geneva in February, followed by the second auction in Hong Kong in April.
See: More Highlights from “Important Watches: Part I”
This Patek Philippe Ref. 5207P circa 2013 with a platinum minute repeating perpetual calendar tourbillon and moon phases, leap year, and day/night indication sold for about $815,400.
This Rolex “Paul Newman” Ref. 6239 yellow gold chronograph wristwatch circa 1969 went for approximately $614,700.
The Rolex “FIFA World Cup 2010—Netherlands Edition” Daytona Ref. 116509H, a limited-edition white gold chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, which sold for approximately $439,200
A circa 2016 Patek Philippe “40th Anniversary” Nautilus Ref. 5976/1G-001, a white gold flyback chronograph wristwatch with date and bracelet, went for about $627,200.
This Rolex “Tutti Frutti” Yacht-Master Ref. 116695SATS in pink gold with diamond, tsavorite, and sapphire garnered approximately $125,400 at auction.
In the May 10 auction in which Genta’s Royal Oak appeared, there were also four rare oil paintings from the watch designer, which achieved $2.3 million total.
This brings the running total of works from Genta’s personal archive to $4.3 million, Sotheby’s said.
Outside of Genta’s personal Royal Oak, collectors still wanted to be a part of the watch designer’s history, with 55 Genta-designed models selling to realize a combined total of $10.7 million.
Leading this group was a Patek Phillipe Nautilus Ref. 5976 commemorating the model’s 40th anniversary, which sold for approximately $627,400, and a stainless steel Patek Phillipe Nautilus Ref. 5711 with a rare olive-green dial, which sold for about $526,800.
Sotheby’s noted perpetual calendar Royal Oaks were also in high demand, including a Ref. 25554 in yellow gold with a black dial circa 1986 that sold for about $376,500, and a platinum skeletonized perpetual calendar Ref. 25636, which also went for approximately $376,500.
Meanwhile, a Rolex Daytona commemorating the achievements of the Dutch football team in the World Cup—one of only 30—went for more than four times its pre-sale high estimate and set an auction record for the reference when it sold for about $439,200.
And a rare Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” in yellow gold circa 1969 sold for approximately $614,700 after almost three minutes of bidding competition among three bidders.
Sotheby’s “Important Watches: Part I” sale totaled $19.3 million and was 86 percent sold by volume.
It was followed closely by Part II of Important Watches in Geneva on May 11, which totaled $3.8 million.
The final sequence of “Icons of Time” offering designs from Genta’s archives will take place in New York from June 8-22, led by the most valuable Disney watches he ever made.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
Recorded WebinarsMay 27, 2022
Watch: The 5 Things I Always Take to a Trade ShowEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff is joined by three industry veterans to talk about the items they never leave behind and why.
CollectionsMay 27, 2022
92Y Has Selected its 2022 Artist in ResidenceGerman jewelry artist Alexander Blank is the fourth designer to receive the honor.
CollectionsMay 27, 2022
Piece of the Week: Which Movie Inspired This Chopard Masterpiece?The answer is “Hair,” and the necklace is from Chopard’s 2022 Red Carpet Collection, rolled out at the Cannes Film Festival.
Brought to you by
3 Reasons to Offer Estate Buying at Your StoreProvide your customers with a seamless selling solution by partnering with Windsor Jewelers, Inc.
Supplier BulletinMay 26, 2022
Extraordinary Italian Jewelry at JCK and COUTURESponsored by Italian Trade Agency
Weekly QuizMay 26, 2022
This Week’s QuizTest your knowledge of the latest jewelry news with this quick test.
SourcingMay 26, 2022
Q&A: Deciphering De Beers’ Blockchain PlatformDavid Prager virtually sat down with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff to answer questions about the rollout of Tracr at scale.
FinancialsMay 26, 2022
Movado Posts Record Q1 Sales Despite ‘Challenging’ US MarketThe company opted not to raise its fiscal guidance, citing a slowdown in the U.S. market as a key reason.
Brought to you by
Dive into GIA’s Pearl ExpertiseWhen it comes to knowing the identity and quality of your pearls, count on GIA as your independent pearl experts.
TechnologyMay 26, 2022
State of Retail: The Pros and Cons of 4 Jewelry-Selling PlatformsFrom “old-school” eBay to new kid on the block 1stDibs, we asked jewelers about their experiences selling jewelry in non-traditional places.
Policies & IssuesMay 26, 2022
Barbara Wheat Named Executive Director of Ethical Metalsmiths She has nearly 30 years’ experience in the gem and jewelry industry and a background in nonprofit management.
EditorsMay 25, 2022
7 Standout Tiaras in Sotheby’s Platinum Jubilee ExhibitionSenior Editor Brecken Branstrator chooses the pieces she’d most want to see in person.
MajorsMay 25, 2022
Anne Hathaway Is Bulgari’s Newest AmbassadorThe actress joins Zendaya and others in a new advertising campaign.
IndependentsMay 25, 2022
The Mexican Shack to Close After 47 YearsOwner Steve Delzio shares his thoughts on retirement after nearly five decades in the jewelry industry.
IndependentsMay 25, 2022
Designer Theo Fennell Has Written a Memoir “I Fear for This Boy” takes readers through the ups and downs of his business and is available for pre-order now.
IndependentsMay 25, 2022
MVEye, Wedding Report Partner on New Jewelry Research Platform“Today’s Wedding Jewelry Consumer” shares data about engagement ring market size, lab-grown and natural diamonds, and more.
ColumnistsMay 24, 2022
The PR Adviser: 10 Questions to Contemplate Columnist Lilian Raji wants to walk you through the customer journey. But first, she’d like you to answer a few questions.
Events & AwardsMay 24, 2022
8 Gold Jewelry Designers Unveil New Platinum DesignsSeveral Couture brands have partnered with Platinum Guild International ahead of the jewelry trade show.
Lab-GrownMay 24, 2022
Kendra Scott Unveils Lab-Grown Engagement Ring CollectionThe jewelry company is moving into bridal just a month after branching out into the watch world.
SourcingMay 24, 2022
State of the Diamond Industry: Where Does Supply Go From Here?The 2008 economic crisis, COVID-19, and sanctions on Russian goods have set the stage for an interesting decade for natural diamond supply.
Events & AwardsMay 24, 2022
WJA to Host Diversity Keynote at New Las Vegas Breakfast Event The Generating Community Impact fundraiser on June 11 will feature Karine Bah Tahé of Blue Level Training.
WatchesMay 23, 2022
Steven Kaiser, Watch Industry Veteran and Beloved Mentor, Dies at 68 Kaiser, whose illustrious career spanned decades, died suddenly on Friday.
IndependentsMay 23, 2022
Long’s Jewelers to Open New LocationThe family-owned jeweler is relocating its Braintree, Massachusetts, store to a new space.
IndependentsMay 23, 2022
Luxury Goods Veteran Olivier Stip Joins Chicago Jeweler CD Peacock He will step into the retailer’s newly created role of chief development officer.
GradingMay 23, 2022
Gem-A Launches Digital Entry-Level Gemology CourseGemIntro is meant to give a broad introduction to gems and gemology.
Recorded WebinarsMay 20, 2022
Watch: Responsible Sourcing and the Gold Supply Chain Three industry experts discuss “recycled” gold vs. mined, their challenges and benefits, and how jewelers can navigate the area.
FinancialsMay 20, 2022
Richemont’s 2022 Jewelry Sales in the Americas Nearly DoubleCartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Buccellati put on stellar performances.
SurveysMay 19, 2022
5 Predictions for Jewelry Retail in the Second Half of 2022From a slowdown in sales growth to rising costs, Fruchtman Marketing outlines its expectations for the second half of the year.
