We might as well state up front that there will be models to suit all tastes and all budgets. Among the 388 lots to be auctioned by Christie's on November 15th at the Hôtel des Bergues in Geneva, Patek Philippe and Rolex naturally take the lion's share, but some more "confidential" names such as Hautlence and Vianney Halter are also represented. Estimates range from a few hundred to a million and a half Swiss francs, while certain lots (including some important ones) are even offered without a reserve price, or in a pack of 18 ! The autumn sale should fetch a total of between CHF 13 and 17 million, if the strength of the Swiss franc does not prove overly dissuasive.

What are the key factors in this auction ? Aurel Bacs, who is in charge of Christie's watchmaking department, certainly does not minimise the playful and democratic approach embodied in the models sold without price reserves or in sets of 18, but is above all keen to highlight some exceptional finds for pocket watch connoisseurs, and to underscore the significance of the Patek Philippe watches brought together for the event. Starting with a trio of exceptional historical complicated watches by Patek Philippe, namely the three legendary models of the 1940s and 1950s: references 1518, 2499 and the extremely rare double-crown Worldtime 2593 estimated at between CHF 1.5 and 2.5 millions. These references are mainly known in yellow gold, and it is very rare to see one of them in rose gold. And yet in this case all three models are in rose gold. As the icing on the cake, they have never yet appeared on the market and stem directly from the family of the original owner – a truly sensational and spectacular occurrence.

Pursuing the auction of the Patek Philippe collection entitled "A connoisseur's vision", which began in 2009 and continued in the spring of 2010 (with a record price of CHF 6 million for the star piece), the third chapter continues with around ten original watches. While prices for this series start at around CHF 40,000, Aurel Bacs expects to see collectors go wild about a ultra-rare split-second chronograph model (ref 1563) of which only three are known to exist. Its look-alike has been ensconced since 2002 in the Patek Philippe Museum and once belonged to Duke Ellington. Its went under the hammer at a price five times that of its half-million franc estimate. Still with Patek, but well off the beaten track, an asymmetrical trilogy bearing the signature of Gilbert Albert, head of production at the time they were made. In response to the question of why he made asymmetrical watches, he said "Are all the hours in the day identical for you? Don't some of them go by faster and aren't some moments more important than others depending on people ?"

As far as non wristwatches are concerned, the auction focuses on two main themes. One is a Chinese section with enamelled automaton pocket watches representing mechanical masterpieces imbued with considerable artistic watches and symbolising the finest examples of this art in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some for example feature an integrated wax pad on which to stamp the owner's seal. The other main section is devoted to Ottoman and Turkish watches that are typical of Middle Eastern culture and reflect a wealth of exceptional and spectacular know-how – as exemplified in the solid gold blue enamelled pocket watch set with emeralds, rubies and diamonds, weighing a total of 700 grams for a 10 cm diameter. In an entirely different register, Christie's is also offering no. 1 of the famous Louis-Ulysse Chopard – The Tribute watch developed for the Geneva Watchmaking School with pocket watch movement blanks guaranteeing for the next 30 years that future generations of students will be able to take their final exam with an high-quality ébauche. All proceeds from the sale of this emblematic watch will be donated to the School, which dispenses it from any estimate. The market and generous souls will determine its price.

Another special feature of this auction is the large number of wristwatches offered without any reserve price, enabling bidders to enrich a collection at an extremely affordable price while being spoilt for choice: there is not only a variety of models from the major brands such as Breguet, Cartier and Rolex, but also complete single-brand sets such as the Masterpiece Set of 6 platinum watches made by Blancpain in the 1990s (tourbillon, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, ultra-thin, split-second and moon-phase models).

On an equally playful note, Christie's is auctioning lots of 18 watches from the 1930s, 40s and 50s at the price of CHF 3,000. These "lucky bags" had been unearthed by a young auctioneer in the basement of the Chronométrie Bayer in Zurich (in a wooden chest containing a total of 300 completely new watches) and already auctioned according to the same principle in 1999. Some have never even been removed from their protective sachet and are still in the same impeccable condition – fetishists take note ! And what about this 1950s Rolex depth gauge prototype that has not yet been documented in any specialist literature? Only the archives in the Swiss official patent office in Bern mention this discovery christened Divomet in 1952. A must have in a comprehensive Rolex collection! In a completely different and just as singular vein, a Rolex in yellow gold with enamelled black dial depicting a chimera.

While little known to the public at large, Gene Clark is considered by connoisseurs as America's 20th century answer to Breguet. He hand-crafted his watches from start to finish (apart from the glass), and spent no less than 10,000 working hours spread over four years to entirely make seven exceptional watches, and in particular this tourbillon pocket watch with constant-force escapement, offered at CHF 50,0000 – an extremely moderate price in respect to the intrinsic historical value of this eminent figure and his innovative creations.