Patek Philippe, Napoleon dominate Sotheby's watch auction

May 12, 2009, 9:14 GMT

Geneva - Two watches by famed Geneva manufacturer Patek Philippe were sold by Christie's auction house on Monday for nearly 2 million Swiss francs each.

With the buyer's premium, a rare 1960 chronograph wristwatch with pink gold sold for 1,935,800 francs (1,745,060 dollars). The watch was initially retailed by Gobbi of Milan and was put on the block by the family of the original owner.

A prototype over-sized aviator wristwatch, manufactured in 1936 in Geneva, fetched 1.6 million francs - without the premium - well above the estimated price of 500,000 francs. Its final price will be just below the other Patek Philippe.

Some other notable pieces that went under the hammer included two items with connections to Napoleon I.

One, sold by a direct descendant of Caroline Murat Bonaparte, the European emperor's sister, was a travelling alarm clock made by Breguet, which fetched 723,000 francs, nearly twice its estimate.

A telescope given to Napoleon Bonaparte by Jean-Jacques de Cambaceres on May 10, 1800, was sold for 147,000 francs. The item was believed to have been bestowed to the military leader when he was transiting through Geneva on the road to battle, Christie's said.

The auction house put more than 300 watches from luxury makers including Rolex and Cartier under the hammer for its spring sale.