Elton John owned this 18-karat gold, 40 mm Rolex Daytona with leopard-print dial and strap, a model the brand introduced at Baselworld in 2004. The bezel has 36 square-cut, cognac-colored sapphires while the hoods between the lugs are set with 48 brilliant-cut diamonds. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)
New York—A Rolex Daytona with a leopard-print dial formerly owned by Elton John was one of two record-setting watch sales on the opening night of Christie’s “Goodbye Peachtree Road” auction.
The auction, which continues through next week with online sales, features jewelry, watches, clothing, art and memorabilia the superstar singer collected over the years and kept in his condominium on Peachtree Road in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.
Elton John sold the condo, which he bought in the early ‘90s, last fall.
As expected, the top jewelry/watch lot of the sale’s opening night was a circa 1991 Cartier “Crash” watch.
Elton John’s Cartier “Crash” watch was one of only 400 Crash models the brand released in 1991. It sold for more than $275,000 at Christie’s on Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)
A buyer paid $277,200 for the 24 mm, 18-karat gold timepiece, more than double its highest pre-sale estimate of $100,000.
The singer’s animal-print Rolex Daytona, set with a ring of cognac-colored sapphires and diamond hour markers, sold for $176,400, nearly triple its highest pre-sale estimate of $60,000.
The EGOT’s diamond and sapphire Cartier “Tank Normale” sold for $176,400, more than five times its highest pre-sale estimate. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)
And an 18-karat white gold Cartier “Tank Normale” watch with a baguette sapphire-set dial surrounded by a frame of diamond baguettes blew its $20,000-$30,000 pre-sale estimate out of the water, with a buyer paying $176,400 for the wristwatch.
It also was a record for the model, Christie’s said.
Together, the three watches garnered $630,000 against a high estimate of $190,000 total.
Other jewelry/watch highlights from the auction include Elton John’s diamond necklace featuring the title of one of his ‘70s hits, “The Bitch Is Back,” which sold for $32,760, within its estimated range, and a Cartier ring set with a heart-shaped sapphire.
A buyer paid $132,300 for the ring, more than its anticipated sale price of $50,000 to $80,000.
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In total, the opening night of Christie’s “The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road” auction garnered $8 million, with all 49 lots finding buyers.
As anticipated, the top lot was Banksy’s “Flower Thrower” triptych. It sold for $1.9 million, topping its $1 million-$1.5 million estimate.
The auction of items from Elton John’s former Peachtree Road home will continue with a day sale that begins today and closes Friday, and the online portions of the sale, which conclude on Feb. 27 and 28.
One of the online sales, “The Jewel Box,” features more jewelry and watches formerly owned by the singer from brands including Chopard, Hublot, Oscar Heyman, Stephen Webster, and Theo Fennell.
