The remarkable horological treasure chest represented by Seth Atwood's Time Museum will again be opened, when Sotheby's New York holds its upcoming sale on October 17, 2008. Nine pieces from the Rockford, Illinois-based museum will be offered, including an exceptional perpetual calendar pocket watch with moon phase, five-minute repeater and split-seconds chronograph by the Waltham Watch Company; this lot is notable as the most complex American watch ever made, and carries a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$70,000.
Also from the Time Museum collection--whose Patek Philippe "Graves Supercomplication" of 1933 set a world record sale price of $11 million at Sotheby's in 1999--are a commissioned triple-axis ship chronometer with a tourbillon escapement from Richard Good, and an open-faced quarter repeater "Magician's watch" with automaton, which is expected to fetch between $30,000-$40,000.
The 200-plus lots in the October 17th Sotheby's New York sale comprise a number of other exceptional timepieces as well, among them rare examples from Breguet, Patek Philippe, and Rolex. Breguet will be represented by a modern example of the master's famed "Sympathique" carriage clock, as well as a very important tourbillon wristwatch with minute repeater in platinum which was part of a limited edition 1997 production to commemorate the birth of Abraham-Louis Breguet. Representing Patek Philippe are two notable wristwatch references, a Ref. 3448 perpetual calendar in 18K yellow gold, and a Ref. 533R chronograph in pink gold, originally sold by Buenos Aires retailer Walser Wald; the two watches carry pre-sale estimates of $100,000-$150,000 and $60,000-$80,000, respectively. Another highly desirable offering from Patek Philippe, is a white gold example of the firm's Ref. 3970E perpetual calendar chronograph; sales estimates for this desirable reference stand at $120,000-$180,000.
Among the notable Rolex timepieces offered, include a "Monobloc" Chronograph, Ref. 4048 with a rarely-seen black dial, dated to 1946; this watch, accompanied by its original sales receipt and Rolex documentation, also carries with it a fascinating story: it was originally purchased by an American serviceman stationed in Munich. Pre-sale estimates are $55,000-$75,000. Also for sale, is a COMEX Submariner Date, Ref. 16610. Among the last examples of the professional watches which Rolex produced for the specialist diving firm, this particular COMEX Submariner carries the added distinction of having never been worn by its original owner. Estimated sale price is $80,000-$120,000.