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A PATEK PHILIPPE gold watch billed as the most expensive – and most complicated — in the world fetched a record $21.3 million (€17.1 million) today when it went under the hammer in Switzerland.
The sale of the “Henry Graves Supercomplication”, a handcrafted timepiece named after its original owner, a New York banker who ordered it in 1925, was the main event at a jewel and watch auction held in Geneva.
The watch, which weighs more than half a kilo and comprises 900 separate parts, had been estimated to go for a lower amount, $15 million.
Bidding
But frenzied bidding pushed the price up higher, and the final amount paid was “a new world record,” Sotheby’s said.
The winning bidder, who remained anonymous, will have to fork out a total of $24 million, including the commission.
It took Patek Philippe five years to put the watch together. Graves’s name is right there on the dial.
Tim Bourne, Sotheby’s worldwide head of watches, said the sale confirmed the watch’s “superstar status”.
Bourne called it an “icon of the 20th century, a masterpiece that elevates the discipline of watchmaking to art”.
‘Symbolises strength, power and money’
A watch industry expert told AFP before the auction the timepiece was not just an immensely expensive accessory.
“This is not a watch you can wear. It is a watch that symbolises strength, power and money,” he said.
The Patek Philippe piece displays not only the hour but also a plethora of other indicators: a perpetual calendar, the phases of the moon, sidereal time, indications for the time of sunset and sunrise, and the shifting night sky over Manhattan.
Its Westminster chimes sing joyfully every 15 minutes
The watch has been on the block once before, at a Sotheby’s auction in New York in December 1999, when the Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois closed its doors and emptied its inventory.
That time, the exquisite timepiece went for a mere $11 million.
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Another tool for the narcissist generation
Just because you can’t afford one?
I’d say you’re they type to wear sunglasses inside Aidan
Sunglasses indoors, par for the course.
Aidan = D4 Muppet
The app is free, I reckon Stephen could splash out on a free app and as he just posted comments to another smart phone app I am also thinking there is a chance he owns a smart phone.
Indeed Love Guinness……but then, Stephens smart phone is most likely smarter than Stephen.
Cost more Al Cal
scope me later ya.
You loo like a desperate tool Kelly
Apple are to release there version soon called endoscope…. Although it will likely be a pain in the ads to use
They should release endascope too so everyone can see through the eyes of a winner!
Eyes of a donkey :-D
“They should release endascope too so everyone can see through the eyes of a winner!”
So…..that’s not a tan you’re sporting.
You are by far the most irritating shinnerbot on TheJournal Aidan, congrats.
They do have one its call an Endoscopy, that when they’ll look in your ass Aidan and to see where your intellect has gone
You can see the difference at contrastthemeerkat.com
Skype?
Tell them to watch The Hunt for Red October.. that should give ‘em a good intro for periscope.
Crazy Ivan? Or maybe that’s Crimson Tide.
Source: David Guetta
Ah it’s just the obvious progression for the huge proportion of the online populace that think because they can, they should.
Most have nothing interesting to say anyway, this is like porn for them.
Funny enough, I didn’t hear anybody talking about it.
Up Periscope !
It’s a perfectly designed instantly accessible broadcasting device with massive potential. We’ll be using it with our students. If you’re already with twitter it’s seamless. Is miles ahead if competitors like meerkat etc. Try it! http://www.connemaramathsacademy.com
Should have said ‘app’ instead of device.
To what end will this prove useful though?
Have a read of this article, will answer that question http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/26/8296537/explosion-east-village-periscope-live
have your say