Dormant in a forgotten vault at the Horological Society of New York for over 40 years, a trove of vintage wrist and pocket watches will be wound again and put into the auction spotlight by Heritage Auctions on April 3, with live bidding underway now for the Horological Society of New York Benefit Auction. The current board has re-discovered these treasures, and through deliberation has decided to use them to commence with a new annual charity auction tradition to begin and support the HSNY Endowment Fund.
Vintage Timepieces
“It’s a remarkable find. These great watches by Patek, Audemars Piguet, Piaget and others were of modest value when donated to the Society, where they were consigned to a vault and forgotten, oblivious to the skyrocketing market outside,” commented Heritage Auctions watch expert Michael Fossner, who expects the collection to sell in excess of $10,000.
The collection includes an enamel Horological Society of New York pin that was not in the vault with the four timepieces but is one of the few remaining vintage enamel pins from the society as well as four vintage timepieces. Two wristwatches are featured including an Audemars Piguet 18K Gold Square Wristwatch Ref. 5128BA Signed Tiffany & Co. Circa 1960 and a Patek Philippe Ref. 3514 18k Gold Automatic Wristwatch. A pair of unique pocket watches round out the quintet of horological items offered including a Audemars Piguet 18K Gold Ultra-Thin Pocket Watch Signed Tiffany & Co. Circa 1959 and a Piaget $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Coin Watch Signed Cartier.
Final bidding will be conducted live during the HSNY’s 151st annual Gala & Charity Auction, at the General Society Library, 20 West 44th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, New York, New York.
Vintage Timepieces
