Sotheby’s Important Watches auction in Hong Kong on 24 April 2026 achieved HK$414.2 million, or US$52.9 million, against an estimate of HK$203.2 million to HK$387.7 million (US$25.9 million to US$49.5 million). The total is the highest ever realized for a watch sale at Sotheby’s, eclipsing the previous record of $42.8 million set in December 2025, and the most valuable watch auction ever held in Asia. Some 97 percent of lots found buyers, with more than half selling above the high estimate and five lots exceeding $1 million.
Central to the result was the debut of The Shapes of Cartier: The Finest Vintage Grouping Ever Assembled, the largest collection of vintage Cartier watches presented at auction. The 82-piece group achieved HK$108 million, or US$13.8 million, more than seven times its pre-sale estimate, with 100 percent of lots sold.
Leading the sale was a rare yellow-gold Cartier London Crash, circa 1987, which more than doubled its pre-sale estimate over a nine-minute bidding battle to reach HK$15,616,000, or US$1,993,539 (est. HK$3,200,000 to HK$6,000,000 / US$400,000 to US$750,000). Acquired by a Japanese private collector, it set a record for the most valuable Cartier wristwatch ever sold at auction. Fewer than a dozen original London Crash watches are thought to have been produced between 1967 and 1970, and this 1987 example is believed to be one of only three made that year.
Records were also set for two Cartier Tank models: a white-gold London Tank J.J.C. Allongée, circa 1992, which sold for HK$5,760,000, or US$735,322 (est. HK$320,000 to HK$480,000 / US$40,000 to US$60,000); and a London Tank Normale, circa 1967 to 1968, which achieved HK$4,608,000, or US$588,257 (est. HK$240,000 to HK$400,000 / US$30,000 to US$50,000). A record was set for the Baignoire, as a London example from circa 1973 to 1974 fetched HK$4,864,000, or US$620,938 (est. HK$400,000 to HK$550,000 / US$50,000 to US$70,000).
A yellow-gold Cartier London Asymmetric with blue enamel drew more than 15 bidders and reached HK$6,656,000, or US$849,705, more than ten times its high estimate (est. HK$400,000 to HK$650,000 / US$50,000 to US$82,000); research has identified only five known Cartier London enamel watches from the era. A very rare Cartier Paris oval-form skeletonised wristwatch in yellow gold, estimated at HK$400,000, sold for HK$7,424,000, or US$947,748.
Among further highlights, an Art-Deco-inspired Patek Philippe single-button chronograph, produced in 1924 and originally retailed by Tiffany & Co., sold for HK$15,360,000, or US$1,960,858. A world record for an A. Lange & Söhne wristwatch was set by the Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, reference 701.007, which sold for HK$10,368,000, or US$1,323,579, against an estimate of HK$1,200,000 to HK$2,400,000 (US$150,000 to US$300,000). A world record was also set for a Patek Philippe Ref. 2552 ‘ La Maison Platine’, which achieved HK$6,016,000, or US$768,003 (est. HK$5,000,000 to HK$10,000,000 / US$625,000 to US$1,250,000), and a record was set for a Daniel Roth Tourbillon Skeleton, which sold for HK$6,784,000, or US$866,045 (est. HK$1,200,000 to HK$2,000,000 / US$150,000 to US$250,000).
The sale also featured a 100 percent sold offering of 38 timepieces from ‘ The Aficionado Collector’, which achieved a combined HK$31,505,920, or US$4,022,046, led by an F.P. Journe Centigraphe Sport at HK$3,712,000, or US$473,874 (est. HK$1,200,000 to HK$3,000,000 / US$150,000 to US$375,000). Additional highlights from the Cartier collection will be presented at Sotheby’s Important Watches auctions in Geneva on 10 May 2026 and in New York in June.
(Press Release)
