Chopard and Patek Modern Watches Were Top Sellers at Sotheby’s

18K white gold and diamond Chopard tourbillon watch

An 18K white gold and diamond Chopard limited edition tourbillon watch and a Patek Philippe platinum automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar tonneau both sold for $461,000 at Sotheby’s final watch and clock auction of the spring season in New York. 

Patek Philippe platinum automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar tonneau.

The Chopard piece, released circa 2007, has a dial covered with baguette-cut diamonds and a power reserve at 12 o'clock. The Patek Philippe circa 1997 watch has a retrograde date and moon-phases compilations. Sotheby’s Important Watches & Clocks auction held Monday opened and closed with these two modern complicated wristwatches.

The auction took in more than $7.1 million, besting its pre-sale high estimate of $6.5 million and selling 89.1% by lot.

Other pieces of significance that sold included a circa 1915 Cartier desk timepiece that fetched $100,000 and a prototype sports model made by Rolex in 1967 that achieved $383,000—nearly five times its high estimate. A limited edition tourbillon by A. Lange & Söhne from 2011 brought in $197,000.

Pieces made for the Chinese, Indian and South American export markets owned by inventor and businessman Robert Howard brought in approximately $1.4 million, while all ten lots from the estate of golf course designer Jaime Ortiz-Patiño sold and were led by a Patek Philippe Ref 5004R that sold for $185,000.

“We are thrilled to finish it with an auction that performed so well across the full diversity of makers and time periods represented,” said Katharine Thomas, head of Sotheby's Watches department in New York.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

18K white gold and diamond Chopard tourbillon watch

An 18K white gold and diamond Chopard limited edition tourbillon watch and a Patek Philippe platinum automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar tonneau both sold for $461,000 at Sotheby’s final watch and clock auction of the spring season in New York. 

Patek Philippe platinum automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar tonneau.

The Chopard piece, released circa 2007, has a dial covered with baguette-cut diamonds and a power reserve at 12 o'clock. The Patek Philippe circa 1997 watch has a retrograde date and moon-phases compilations. Sotheby’s Important Watches & Clocks auction held Monday opened and closed with these two modern complicated wristwatches.

The auction took in more than $7.1 million, besting its pre-sale high estimate of $6.5 million and selling 89.1% by lot.

Other pieces of significance that sold included a circa 1915 Cartier desk timepiece that fetched $100,000 and a prototype sports model made by Rolex in 1967 that achieved $383,000—nearly five times its high estimate. A limited edition tourbillon by A. Lange & Söhne from 2011 brought in $197,000.

Pieces made for the Chinese, Indian and South American export markets owned by inventor and businessman Robert Howard brought in approximately $1.4 million, while all ten lots from the estate of golf course designer Jaime Ortiz-Patiño sold and were led by a Patek Philippe Ref 5004R that sold for $185,000.

“We are thrilled to finish it with an auction that performed so well across the full diversity of makers and time periods represented,” said Katharine Thomas, head of Sotheby's Watches department in New York.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

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View the Chopard Jewelry Thieves Tried To Steal at Cannes

Cara Delevigne wears a diamond necklace and earrings from
Chopard's 2013 Red Carpet Collection during the 66th Annual Cannes
Film Festival opening ceremony and "The Great Gatsby" Premiere.

Chopard downplayed the theft of some of its valuable jewels from a hotel room during the Cannes Film Festival. In a statement, the luxury jeweler and watchmaker said police reports estimating the value of upwards of $1.4 million was an exaggeration and the jewels were not from its 2013 Red Carpet Collection unveiled at Cannes and destined to be worn by celebrities at the many of the glamorous festival events.

However, company officials refuse to say what was stolen and the value, citing the ongoing investigation. A festival official reportedly said the Palme d'Or, the trophy designed by Chopard and awarded to the best director winner at the festival.

Prior to the theft, the company unveiled its Red Carpet Collection of jewels and watches during the opening night ceremony of the 66th annual festival and 'The Great Gatsby' Premiere with celebrities including Julianne Moore, Cindy Crawford and Lana Del Rey wearing pieces from the collection. Designed by Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of the House of Chopard, the collection features big diamond pieces along with delicate colored gem stones works set in 18k gold.

You don’t have to be a thief to view the collection. Below is an overview of the 66 pieces in the collection along with some of the celebrities who wore the pieces on the Cannes red carpet.

Diamond and 18k white gold necklace set with a 5-carat pear-cut diamond and 284 rose-cut diamond totaling almost 183 carats.

Julianne Moore wears a Chopard diamond necklace. Photo credit: Venturelli/WireImage

This Poppy Ring combines diamonds with more than 700 rubies, 640 tsavorites and 168 emeralds with 18k white and yellow gold. 

Cindy Crawford in Chopard earrings.

18k white gold set with two oval-shaped blue tanzanites (17cts), multicoloured spinels (15cts), tourmalines, amethysts and diamonds.

Indian actress and model Freida Pinto. Photo credit: Michael Buckner/WireImage 

Pear-shaped 65-carat kunzite mounted on 18k white gold paved with diamonds.

American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey.
Photo credit: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

15-carat heart-shaped Paraiba Tourmaline mounted on an 18k white gold ring set with more than 1,000 diamonds.

Solange Knowles in Chopard 2013 Red Carpet Collection earrings.

18k white gold ring set with a 15-carat pear-shaped spinel and finished in diamond pave. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

Cara Delevigne wears a diamond necklace and earrings from
Chopard's 2013 Red Carpet Collection during the 66th Annual Cannes
Film Festival opening ceremony and "The Great Gatsby" Premiere.

Chopard downplayed the theft of some of its valuable jewels from a hotel room during the Cannes Film Festival. In a statement, the luxury jeweler and watchmaker said police reports estimating the value of upwards of $1.4 million was an exaggeration and the jewels were not from its 2013 Red Carpet Collection unveiled at Cannes and destined to be worn by celebrities at the many of the glamorous festival events.

However, company officials refuse to say what was stolen and the value, citing the ongoing investigation. A festival official reportedly said the Palme d'Or, the trophy designed by Chopard and awarded to the best director winner at the festival.

Prior to the theft, the company unveiled its Red Carpet Collection of jewels and watches during the opening night ceremony of the 66th annual festival and 'The Great Gatsby' Premiere with celebrities including Julianne Moore, Cindy Crawford and Lana Del Rey wearing pieces from the collection. Designed by Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of the House of Chopard, the collection features big diamond pieces along with delicate colored gem stones works set in 18k gold.

You don’t have to be a thief to view the collection. Below is an overview of the 66 pieces in the collection along with some of the celebrities who wore the pieces on the Cannes red carpet.

Diamond and 18k white gold necklace set with a 5-carat pear-cut diamond and 284 rose-cut diamond totaling almost 183 carats.

Julianne Moore wears a Chopard diamond necklace. Photo credit: Venturelli/WireImage

This Poppy Ring combines diamonds with more than 700 rubies, 640 tsavorites and 168 emeralds with 18k white and yellow gold. 

Cindy Crawford in Chopard earrings.

18k white gold set with two oval-shaped blue tanzanites (17cts), multicoloured spinels (15cts), tourmalines, amethysts and diamonds.

Indian actress and model Freida Pinto. Photo credit: Michael Buckner/WireImage 

Pear-shaped 65-carat kunzite mounted on 18k white gold paved with diamonds.

American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey.
Photo credit: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

15-carat heart-shaped Paraiba Tourmaline mounted on an 18k white gold ring set with more than 1,000 diamonds.

Solange Knowles in Chopard 2013 Red Carpet Collection earrings.

18k white gold ring set with a 15-carat pear-shaped spinel and finished in diamond pave. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

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$1M of Chopard Red Carpet Jewelry Stolen at Cannes Film Festival

Julianne Moore in Chopard jewelry during Cannes Film Festival

Approximately $1 million worth of Chopard jewelry was stolen from a hotel suite Thursday during the second day of the Cannes Film Festival, according to CNN and other reports.

The jewelry stolen was meant to worn by celebrities during festival events. Which pieces were stolen and who was scheduled to wear them is unknown at this time. The jewels were taken from a safe inside a suite in a Novotel hotel on Boulevard Carnot in Cannes, according to the report. The thieves unscrewed the safe from inside the hotel room and carried it out sometime between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., while the person guarding them was out at dinner.

The luxury jeweler and watchmaker has been closely associated with the world’s most famous international film festival for the past 15 years. Chopard’s designs the Palme d’Or, the prize awarded to the best director, and presents the Trophée Chopard to the “Best Young Actor and Actress of the Year.”

Each year the brand also unveils its Red Carpet Collection of luxury jewelry and watches at the film festival, worn by the biggest celebrities at this event, known internationally for its glitz and glamour. The stolen items are believed to be from this collection.
  
Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

Julianne Moore in Chopard jewelry during Cannes Film Festival

Approximately $1 million worth of Chopard jewelry was stolen from a hotel suite Thursday during the second day of the Cannes Film Festival, according to CNN and other reports.

The jewelry stolen was meant to worn by celebrities during festival events. Which pieces were stolen and who was scheduled to wear them is unknown at this time. The jewels were taken from a safe inside a suite in a Novotel hotel on Boulevard Carnot in Cannes, according to the report. The thieves unscrewed the safe from inside the hotel room and carried it out sometime between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., while the person guarding them was out at dinner.

The luxury jeweler and watchmaker has been closely associated with the world’s most famous international film festival for the past 15 years. Chopard’s designs the Palme d’Or, the prize awarded to the best director, and presents the Trophée Chopard to the “Best Young Actor and Actress of the Year.”

Each year the brand also unveils its Red Carpet Collection of luxury jewelry and watches at the film festival, worn by the biggest celebrities at this event, known internationally for its glitz and glamour. The stolen items are believed to be from this collection.
  
Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

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Chopard Unveils 65-Carat, $1.58 Million Happy Sport Anniversary Watch

Chopard is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its successful Happy Sport watch line by releasing the Happy Sport Diamantissimo—an 18-carat white gold timepiece set with 958 baguette-cut diamonds and 1,978 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 65 carats. It retails for 1.5 million Swiss francs ($1.58 million).

And it’s not just another pretty face as this timepiece is driven by a Chopard L.U.C 96.17-L in-house movement. The company said in a statement that this watch combines its expertise in high jewelry and fine watchmaking.

It took more than 4,500 hours of work to create the watch—with 1,700 hours dedicated to gem setting. The dial, bezel, case and bracelet links are covered with diamonds using the “invisible” setting technique. This involves each stone being cut and adjusted to create a seamless diamond-studded surface showing no spaces and no setting prongs.

Caroline Scheufele created the Happy Sport in 1993 and it has since been reinterpreted in elegant and even humorous ways, appearing in a number of identities, including Happy Beach, La Vie en Rose, Happy Spirit and Mystery Pink.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website

Chopard is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its successful Happy Sport watch line by releasing the Happy Sport Diamantissimo—an 18-carat white gold timepiece set with 958 baguette-cut diamonds and 1,978 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 65 carats. It retails for 1.5 million Swiss francs ($1.58 million).

And it’s not just another pretty face as this timepiece is driven by a Chopard L.U.C 96.17-L in-house movement. The company said in a statement that this watch combines its expertise in high jewelry and fine watchmaking.

It took more than 4,500 hours of work to create the watch—with 1,700 hours dedicated to gem setting. The dial, bezel, case and bracelet links are covered with diamonds using the “invisible” setting technique. This involves each stone being cut and adjusted to create a seamless diamond-studded surface showing no spaces and no setting prongs.

Caroline Scheufele created the Happy Sport in 1993 and it has since been reinterpreted in elegant and even humorous ways, appearing in a number of identities, including Happy Beach, La Vie en Rose, Happy Spirit and Mystery Pink.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website

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Chopard Extends Partnership with Historic Grand Prix of Monaco Till 2018

Luxury watch and jewelry brand Chopard has extended its sponsorship of the biennial Grand Prix de Monaco Historique as its official timekeeper until 2018.

For every GPMH race, Chopard, which has served as the official timekeeper since 2002, creates a limited edition of an eponymous watch, featuring a design inspired by the automobile world. These models are equipped with COSC-certified movements.

Organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco, the GPMH serves as an historical retrospective of Monaco’s famous car race. Every two years, more than 200 drivers from 19 different countries participate with Grand Prix racing cars dating back to between 1947 and 1978, competing in one of seven races during the event. The next edition of the race will be held May 9 – 14, 2014.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website

Luxury watch and jewelry brand Chopard has extended its sponsorship of the biennial Grand Prix de Monaco Historique as its official timekeeper until 2018.

For every GPMH race, Chopard, which has served as the official timekeeper since 2002, creates a limited edition of an eponymous watch, featuring a design inspired by the automobile world. These models are equipped with COSC-certified movements.

Organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco, the GPMH serves as an historical retrospective of Monaco’s famous car race. Every two years, more than 200 drivers from 19 different countries participate with Grand Prix racing cars dating back to between 1947 and 1978, competing in one of seven races during the event. The next edition of the race will be held May 9 – 14, 2014.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website

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Chopard’s 2012-2013 Winter Collection of Jewelry, Watches, Clocks and Games

Luxury house Chopard recently unveiled a collection of jewelry, timepieces and even a backgammon set for the winter season. Items include the following:

L.U.C Quattro Table Clock
The table clock is inspired by the famous Haute Horlogerie L.U.C collection and one of its flagship models. For the very first time, Chopard offers a table clock equipped with a mechanical hand-wound movement with an eight-day power reserve.


Imperiale Jewelry
To accompany the Imperiale watch, Chopard created a new line of jewelry. The motif that adorns the dials of the watches, inspired by the traditional embroideries that once decorated imperial gowns and cushions, is apparent within the design of the pendants, earrings, rings, and bracelets. The collection is set in 18k rose gold or white gold, featuring amethyst, pink quartz or chalcedony.


Happy Sport Chrono
The Happy Sport chronograph in diamond-set rose gold remains loyal to the very essence of the Happy Sport collection—with a white mother-of-pearl dial and delicate gem-setting.


Precious Temptations
Chopard creates a banquet of sweet delights, combining precious stones with gems to create an array of pink sapphires, amethysts, rubellites, tsavorites, tourmalines and opals.


L.U.C Quattro
The new L.U.C Quattro is powered by one of the biggest successes of Chopard Manufacture—the four-barrel L.U.C 98.01-L movement. The timepiece adopts the new aesthetic codes of the L.U.C collection that combines Haute Horlogerie with distinguished lines.


Backgammon Set
Chopard’s backgammon set is in black-lacquered sycamore wood featuring red, cream and black sycamore marquetry.


Animal World Collection Seal Lion Necklace
To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Chopard has taken on the challenge of signing an Haute Joaillerie collection of 150 unique animal-themed pieces. This year Chopard introduces its Sea Lion Necklace with white south sea cultured pearls and diamonds.


Happy 8
The Happy Diamonds collection explores the symbolism of the figure 8 with a new collection of watches, pendants, rings and earrings. The ideal curves, richness and power of the figure 8 have inspired Chopard to create a collection where the infinity purity of the lines echoes that of the materials in a subtle association between diamonds and gold.


Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Chrono 2012
The new watch, with its matte grey, vivid colors and racing stripes, is a tribute to 1970s racing cars. Equipped with a mechanical self-winding movement chronometer-certified by the COSC, the timepiece displays the hours, minutes, small seconds and the date, naturally complemented by chronograph functions and a tachometric scale.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page and on Twitter  @JewelryNewsNet.

Luxury house Chopard recently unveiled a collection of jewelry, timepieces and even a backgammon set for the winter season. Items include the following:

L.U.C Quattro Table Clock
The table clock is inspired by the famous Haute Horlogerie L.U.C collection and one of its flagship models. For the very first time, Chopard offers a table clock equipped with a mechanical hand-wound movement with an eight-day power reserve.


Imperiale Jewelry
To accompany the Imperiale watch, Chopard created a new line of jewelry. The motif that adorns the dials of the watches, inspired by the traditional embroideries that once decorated imperial gowns and cushions, is apparent within the design of the pendants, earrings, rings, and bracelets. The collection is set in 18k rose gold or white gold, featuring amethyst, pink quartz or chalcedony.


Happy Sport Chrono
The Happy Sport chronograph in diamond-set rose gold remains loyal to the very essence of the Happy Sport collection—with a white mother-of-pearl dial and delicate gem-setting.


Precious Temptations
Chopard creates a banquet of sweet delights, combining precious stones with gems to create an array of pink sapphires, amethysts, rubellites, tsavorites, tourmalines and opals.


L.U.C Quattro
The new L.U.C Quattro is powered by one of the biggest successes of Chopard Manufacture—the four-barrel L.U.C 98.01-L movement. The timepiece adopts the new aesthetic codes of the L.U.C collection that combines Haute Horlogerie with distinguished lines.


Backgammon Set
Chopard’s backgammon set is in black-lacquered sycamore wood featuring red, cream and black sycamore marquetry.


Animal World Collection Seal Lion Necklace
To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Chopard has taken on the challenge of signing an Haute Joaillerie collection of 150 unique animal-themed pieces. This year Chopard introduces its Sea Lion Necklace with white south sea cultured pearls and diamonds.


Happy 8
The Happy Diamonds collection explores the symbolism of the figure 8 with a new collection of watches, pendants, rings and earrings. The ideal curves, richness and power of the figure 8 have inspired Chopard to create a collection where the infinity purity of the lines echoes that of the materials in a subtle association between diamonds and gold.


Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Chrono 2012
The new watch, with its matte grey, vivid colors and racing stripes, is a tribute to 1970s racing cars. Equipped with a mechanical self-winding movement chronometer-certified by the COSC, the timepiece displays the hours, minutes, small seconds and the date, naturally complemented by chronograph functions and a tachometric scale.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page and on Twitter  @JewelryNewsNet.

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