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17 Fountain Pen Fascinatio n Preview of the special auction of Luxury Writing Instruments on 27 November FOR FURTHER INFORMATION FASHION & VINTAGE Jara Koller jara.koller@kollerauctions.com ONLINE CATALOGUES www.kollerauctions.com Rare timepieces Preview of the Watches auction on 27 November 2023 To the best of our knowledge, the Patek Philippe reference 1599 in our 27 No- vember auction is the only one of its kind ever offered in a public sale (ill. 2). Made and sold in 1944, this exceptional wristwatch is particularly striking for its large, avant-garde shape in platinum. The 2-tone dial displays applied gold Breguet nu- merals and the double signature ‘Patek Philippe & Co Genève / E. Gübelin’. Inside is a rare hand-wound movement in a chronograph-like construction with central seconds. Also featured is a rare and highly sought-after Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, pro- duced in small numbers but in many different versions since 1972 (ill. 1). It was designed by Gérald Genta, who gave the series its signature look: the octagonal bezel with its robust hexagonal screw heads. But it was especially the then-dar- ing use of stainless steel instead of gold that made the watch unique. Aude- mars Piguet introduced the perpetual calendar complication to the Royal Oak collection in 1983. The refined ref. 25654 has been around since 1983 and was produced until 1998, although the edition of the yellow-gold version is thought to have been limited to just 422 pieces. The watch is powered by the calibre 2120/2800, an automatic movement based on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s legendary ultra-thin calibre 920. 1 Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, yellow gold, No. 580. Estimate: CHF 75 000/160 000 2 Large Patek Philippe in platinum. 1944. Possibly unique. Hand-winding mechanism with central seconds indicator. Estimate: CHF 120 000/180 000 Handwritten letters are no longer commonplace, yet the fountain pen has been an indispensable t ool of cultivated and literary aficionados for the past 150 years. There is a dynamic market for vinta ge writing instruments, and also for more recent, limited editions from traditional makers. The aucti on on 27 November comprises 280 high-quality and rare writing instruments fromworld-famous bran ds such as Montblanc, Namiki and Montegrappa, consigned from a Swiss private collection. The vari ety of materials and finishes employed is particularly interesting – from platinum, gold and silver to p re- cious resin, mother-of-pearl, enamel and hard rubber. The Dunhill-Namiki fountain pen, from a limited edition of 25, is one of the most sought-after pr od- ucts in this category. It is exquisitely decorated in the elaborate Japanese Maki-e lacquer techniq ue (ill. 1). The name given to the Montblanc fountain pen, ‘Bohème Royal Black and White’, refers to t he white and black diamonds with which it is set (ill. 2). The Bohème Royal is one of the most luxuriou s writing instruments Montblanc has ever produced. In honour of the inventor of the chronometer , John Harrison, Montblanc produced a fountain pen whose barrel and cap are made of gold mesh, with a world map and transparent blue resin (ill. facing page, lower right). 1 D unhill-Namiki. Motorities Emperor Maki-e Limited Edition 25. Estimate: CHF 20 000/30 000 2 M ontblanc. ‘Bohème Royal Black and White’. Case in 18K white gold. Barrel and cap set with white and black diamonds. Estimate: CHF 30 000/50 000 1 2 1 2 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION WATCHES Uwe Vischer vischer@kollerauctions.com ONLINE CATALOGUES www.kollerauctions.com