July 5, 2022: Celebrating 100 years of horology for women, French auctioneers Artcurial is hosting two auctions dedicated to ladies’ watches – The Sparking Collection and Time is Feminine. Taking centre stage will be an exceptional single-owner collection of 80 vintage timepieces kept away from the public eye for over 40 years. Featuring iconic watchmakers and jewellers, including Piaget, Cartier, Bulgari, Boucheron, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Gérald Genta, the sales will take place on July 17 and 19, 2022, in the luxurious setting of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
The Sparking Collection, to be auctioned on July 17, is led by a group of 15 rare pieces by Piaget, many of which are iconic coloured, hard stone dial watches from the late 1960s and early 1970s. These include a cuff watch in malachite and yellow gold, circa 1970, offered with a matching ring, sautoir and pendant earrings (est. €80,000 – 120,000). The Swiss watchmaker produced only eight sets in the same design between 1970 and 1976.
Among other Piaget highlights are a coral and yellow gold cuff watch, circa 1970, one of only 15 with ornamental hard stone dials created between 1969 and 1971 (est. €60,000-80,000); and a manchette watch in yellow gold, sapphire and lapis lazuli, circa 1968 (est. €60,000-80,000). Another standout piece in the collection is a Cartier Art Deco wristwatch in diamonds and onyx, circa 1925 (est. €15,000-20,000) and a 1972 Boucheron wristwatch in diamonds and yellow gold (est. €15,000-20,000).
The July 19 auction “Le temps est féminin” (Time is feminine) will showcase a selection of highly fashionable vintage and modern timepieces, including Nautilus and Aquanaut models by Patek Philippe, a 1958 yellow gold Duoplan watch by Jaeger Lecoultre (est. €5,000-7,000) and a 1964 Omega secret watch in yellow gold, sapphires and emeralds (est. €15-000-20,000).
Testament to Patek Philippe’s jewellery creations in the 1970s is a parure in diamonds, onyx and coral, composed of a watch, a necklace and a bracelet (est. €60,000-100,000).
The sales are a part of Artcurial’s Monaco sale series, which will take place from July 15 to 21, 2022 and includes watches, jewellery, Hermès bags, sculpture and comic strip auctions.
