Sotheby’s Geneva watch auction scheduled

Geneva--Sotheby’s Geneva “Pieces of World History” watch sale scheduled for Nov. 13 will feature two vintage Rolexes that once belonged to key leaders of the post-World War II world.

The first, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual dating from 1948, belonged to the first president of the Republic of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The 18-karat pink gold automatic sweep seconds watch has a map of India in champlevé enamel on its dial. It is believed that the watch, which is inscribed with “26 January 1950,” was presented to Prasad on the inauguration of the Republic of India.

The watch, which has never before appeared on the market, is expected to garner between $222,000 and $444,000.

The second Rolex, an 18-karat yellow gold automatic centre seconds with date, was the property of Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany who presided over the re-building of Germany after the Second World War.

The watch has Adenauer’s name engraved on the back and is accompanied by its original leather folder and a letter dated Sept. 16, 1955, from Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf to the German chancellor. It is expected to fetch between $66,500 and $89,000.

Also being offered at Sotheby’s on Nov. 13 are a number of Patek Philippe timepieces.

The standout watch in this collection is the “Clarin Mustad 1518,” a Ref. 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph. Made by special request in 1944, the watch has an 18-karat pink gold brick link bracelet, a personalized inscription on the back, moon phases and a French calendar on the pink dial.

Made between 1941 and 1954, the Ref. 1518 was the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch manufactured in a series. A total of 47 Ref. 1518 models with pink gold cases are known to exist today. This watch is the only one with a gold brick link bracelet and these lugs.

The timepiece is expected to garner between $890,000 and $1.3 million.