The INNOVATIONS
1974 GENEVA
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Creation of the company by Gabriel Tortella and Osvaldo Patrizzi.
50% Tortella - 50% Patrizzi, under the name:
“Galerie Genevoise D’horlogerie Ancienne”
First auction sale.
For the first time in watch auctions, with courage, we adopted the idea of publishing in the catalog all the lots of the sale, accurately described, photographed, and guaranteed. The aim was to bring private individuals closer to collecting, to give the buyer the certainty that the lot they were interested in was as described and photographed in the catalog.
Our goal was to organize two sales per year in Geneva, one in spring and the second in autumn. To make Geneva the world center of collectible watches. Moreover, the history of the city kept pace with the evolution of watchmaking.
1979 HONG KONG
First auction sale and opening of the Hong Kong office.
For Hong Kong, it was a real first. Apart from judicial sales, only tea auctions were held in Hong Kong.
Publication of the book “Montres de Fantasie – Watches of Fantasy”
in collaboration with Fabienne Sturm, director of the Geneva Museum of Horology.
1981 GENEVA
"Antiquorum" is born.
Change of the company name from:
“Galerie D’horlogerie Ancienne” to “Antiquorum SA”.
Full takeover of the company by me.
From Gabriele Tortella 50% & Osvaldo Patrizzi 50% to
100% Osvaldo Patrizzi.
Opening of the New York office and first auction sale in NY.
Geneva - First sale entirely dedicated to wristwatches.
THE THEMATIC AUCTION SALE
The idea for a sale where the subject is historically and technically in-depth came to me to try and better connect the relationship between collection and collecting.
The purpose of the thematic sale is to study, discover, enhance, and illustrate knowledge about the subject being addressed, highlighting the reason for its success or interest through the life of an artist, their genius, their works, their ideas, and their operational capabilities. It aims to delve into the political and commercial context of the period and the circumstances that led to its development and excellence.
The thematic sale can focus on a name or a brand (The Art of Patek Philippe), a historical period, the product of a nation (L’Art de L’Horlogerie en France). The symbol or type of a product and its development (Antiquorum in Love). The thematic sale is the quintessence of the relationship between passion and subject. The maximum expertise that an expert can transmit to an enthusiast. The level of quality in all the details of a thematic auction sale is always of exceptional quality, and furthermore, the lots in a thematic sale are guaranteed for life!
1989 GENEVA
“The Art of Patek Philippe, 300 Legendary Watches”
World's First Thematic Auction Sale
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, April 9, 1989
With a worldwide traveling exhibition in 6 cities.
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the creation of “Patek Czapek,” which later became “Patek & Co.” and finally Patek Philippe, Philippe Stern commissioned the construction of the four most complicated astronomical pocket watches in the world to celebrate and mark the anniversary. In yellow gold, white gold, red gold, and platinum, the Calibre 89s. The yellow gold one was auctioned and sold for CHF 4,950,000, a true record for that period.
Given the enormous turnout, the auction took place simultaneously in two halls of the Hotel de Bergues and attracted approximately 2,200 people.
The manufacturing of the Calibre 89s took 9 years.
The other three Calibre 89s were sold to an important Eastern family. Some years later, I had the good fortune to be able to buy them and have all four of them simultaneously in my safe.
1990 BASEL - BIRTH OF THE "Paul Newman" MYTH
“Important Watches Wristwatches and Clocks”
Basel, 18th International Watch Fair, April 21, 1990
At the time, it seemed rather unsexy to call a wristwatch like the Rolex Daytona by the reference number that Rolex had given to the Daytona series 6239 / 6240 / 6241 / 6262 / 6263 / 6264 / 6265, or as collectors at the time called it, Exotic Dial. I needed to find a symbol that would distinguish it, personalize it from the other dials that Rolex offered as options for the same references. To me, those seemed like inventory numbers, not names for iconic watches, too beautiful not to identify them with a personality.
During the drafting of the catalog, I came across a photo of Paul Newman wearing a Daytona 6239 that his wife Joanne Woodward had given him. The photo was part of the advertising campaign for the promotion of the movie “Winning,” released in Italy with the title “Indianapolis Pista Infernale” (Indianapolis Hell Track). Attributing such a particular type of watch to a famous and beloved figure like Paul Newman seemed to me the best way to promote it, and I was sure it would become an icon in the world of collecting.
It was certainly a captivating choice to make these models more fascinating than a simple number. Paul Newman dials were produced until the end of production of the reference 6265, which ceased in 1988. The first 6 Daytona Cosmograph watches that I christened “Paul Newman” were in the sale of April 21:
Lot 188, P.N. ref. 6239 in stainless steel with Jubilee bracelet - Estimated 8,000 - 10,000 CHF
Lot 213, P. N. ref. 6262 in stainless steel with leather strap - Estimated 8,000 - 10,000 CHF
Lot 214, P.N. ref. 6265 in stainless steel with Jubilee bracelet - Estimated 8,000 - 10,000 CHF
Lot 215, P.N. ref. 6262 in stainless steel with leather strap - Estimated 8,000 - 10,000 CHF
Lot 219, P.N. caseback with ref. 6238 in 14 ct gold, (caseback previously replaced), with leather strap - Estimated 30,000 - 40,000 CHF
Lot 221, P.N. ref. 6241 in 14 ct gold with leather strap - Estimated 30,000 - 40,000 CHF
1991 GENEVA
“The Art of Breguet”
Second Thematic Auction Sale in the World
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues and Hotel Kempinsky, April 14, 1991
With a worldwide traveling exhibition in 8 cities.
The auction sale and the catalog “The Art of Breguet” are considered one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, sales and catalogs ever made in the field of horology. Having the support and permission of the Breguet Manufacture, I was able to obtain information regarding which personality each watch was made for.
Whenever possible, we researched and found in the archives of France, England, Italy, and Spain the biographies of these individuals and their portraits. We brought to life a parade of figures from the aristocracy, diplomacy, and the world of art from the late 18th to the 19th century.
For the occasion, we received a letter of congratulations and appreciation from “Her Majesty the Queen of England.”
Due to the enormous turnout, the auction sale took place simultaneously at the Hotel des Bergues and the Hotel Kempinsky, attracting approximately two thousand people.
1993 GENEVA
“The Art of Watchmaking in France from the 16th to the 20th Century”
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, November 14, 1993
This sale, like the previous thematic auctions, completely fascinated us in finding, studying, and describing the works of those masters of art who created those immortal horological pieces.
Jean Claude Sabrier played a very important role in this sale.
1994 GENEVA/MILAN
A SERIES OF THEMATIC AUCTIONS:
“100 Years Universal Watch”
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, April 9, 1994
“Longines, Legendary Watches”
Milan, Grand Hotel Et De Milan, November 28, 1994
“The Art Of Vacheron Constantin”
First sale dedicated to the Manufacture
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, November 13, 1994
1995 GENEVA
“Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevoise“
Publication of the book
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, April 9, 1994
“The Art Of British Horology”
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, October 21, 1995
This thematic sale, too, completely fascinated us in finding, studying, and describing the works of those masters of art who created those immortal works. Simon Bull played a very important role in this sale.
1993/1995 THE "PATRIZZI DIAL"
Collectors paid me homage by calling a certain type of dial on the Rolex Daytona reference 16520 the "Patrizzi dial."
I discovered why some dials of the Rolex Daytona tend to change color over time. The change is due to the company's use of a very thin organic varnish, called Zapon, to protect the dial. However, over time and with exposure to ultraviolet light, the dial oxidizes, taking on a distinct brown color in reaction to UV rays.This reaction often creates interesting shades of color, making each watch a unique piece.
1996 GENEVA
“Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks
& Ulysse Nardin Jubilee
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, October 12 1996
“The Magical Art of Cartier”
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, November 19, 1996
With a worldwide traveling exhibition in 8 cities
The “The Magical Art of Cartier” sale gave us the opportunity to dedicate part of the auction to high jewelry in addition to watches and mystery clocks.
With the fundamental help of Kathryn Bonanno Patrizzi, my wife, a leading expert gemologist and jeweler, and Francois Tajan, we gathered 624 lots that made many enthusiasts and collectors dream.
With the support of Cartier and the supervision of Eric Neusbaun.
1997 BIRTH OF THE "Jean Claude Killy" MYTH
Taking inspiration from the success of naming the Rolex Daytona with the special dial "Paul Newman," I was tempted to repeat that experience with another reference that had always fascinated me, the Rolex reference 6036, a waterproof chronograph with triple date. I was looking for a figure with a sporty personality and international fame.
One day, Jean Claude Killy, an acquaintance with whom I occasionally met to talk about watches, came o visit me in the Geneva office.
On his wrist was a steel 6036! I didn't miss the opportunity to ask him if he would agree if I named this model after him in the catalogs. He was happy and honored; after all, who better than him could represent this model, the triple gold medalist of the 1968 Winter Olympics in Albertville?
It was at the sale of April 12, 1997, that the Jean Claude Killy was born in Geneva, lot 129 estimated at 25,000 - 30,000 CHF, and it was sold for 31,625 CHF. These models, the 6036 with references 4767, 5036, 6236, were at the time the most complicated wristwatches Rolex had ever produced. A few months later, I learned that Jean Claude was on the board of directors of Rolex.
1997 GENEVA
“250th Anniversary Of Abraham-Louis Breguet”
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, October 18 1997
“Antiquorum In Love”
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Hotel des Bergues,
November 16, 1997
A general overview
of watchmaking
on the theme of love.
1999 NEW YORK
2001 GENEVA
“The Sandberg Watch Collection”
Geneva, Hotel Richemond, March 31st and April 1st, 2001
Worldwide traveling tour in 8 cities.
The "Sandberg Watch Collection" is a unique collection of 433 watches, one of the most extraordinary still in private hands. With a global value of approximately 15 million Swiss francs, it includes some of the world's most extraordinary enameled watches and musical watches with automaton scenes, often produced for the Chinese market, along with singing bird boxes, erotic watches, and exquisitely shaped watches.
The "Sandberg Watch Collection," spanning a period from 1500 to 1900, includes exceptional 16th and 17th-century watches and rare watches of great importance for their technical interest, such as an early self-winding "perpétuelle" pocket watch by Abraham-Louis Breguet, dating from around 1815, and an astronomical clock made for nautical use around 1785 by the English watchmaker George Margetts.
2002 GINEVRA
“The Evolution of Form in Horology” - 617 Lotti
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, November 16 – 17, 2002
Sale prepared with the contribution of Prof. Catherine Cardinal,
who held the role of scientific director-curator of the International
Museum of Horology (1988-2000).
2003 ZURICH / NEW YORK
“The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer”
Zurich, Hotel Baur Au Lac, November 16 2003
“The Peter Lin Watch Collection”
The Roosvelt Hotel, New York,
December 2nd and 3rd 2003
2005 GENEVA
”The Quarter Millennium Of Vacheron Constantin 1755 – 2005”
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel du Rhone, April 3, 2005
Spectacular Thematic sale dedicated to one of the oldest and most prestigious watch Manufactures.
2005 MONACO
Foundation of “Only Watch” with Luc Pettavino
Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, in Partnership with Luc Pettavino in favor of the Monegasque Association Against Myopathies.
Only Watch was created in 2005 by Osvaldo Patrizzi and Luc Pettavino with a single aim: to raise funds for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a genetic disease that affects 1 in 3,500 boys and progressively weakens all their muscles) by auctioning unique watches.
Luc Pettavino and I wanted to make Only Watch the world's gala event for extraordinary watches, a true Hit Parade of watchmaking, and thanks to the watchmaking Maisons, we succeeded.
2007 GENEVA
“Omegamania”
Thematic Auction
Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel du Rhone, April 14 and 15, 2007
With a worldwide traveling exhibition in 6 cities.
With the logistical support of Nicolas Hayek, President of the Swatch Group, and the Omega management, we managed to gather 300 lots including a Speedmaster that went to space, James Bond's watch, etc.
Omegamania was the last sale in which I participated as Chairman of Antiquorum.
2009 GENEVA
“Creation of the company Patrizzi & Co”
First auction sale.
World's first online and live auction at the Hotel Richmond.
It deserves particular attention for the concept and the new vision of this type of sale. Today it might seem normal, but at the time it required an enormous financial and organizational commitment.
The aim was to give enthusiasts and dealers the opportunity to participate in one or multiple sales at the same time in a single day. The computer screen could be divided into 4 parts according to the customer's choice. Each quarter was independent and could be used without interfering with the others.
On that day, I had organized four simultaneous sales.
The first was dedicated to pocket watches and clocks, the second to wristwatches, the third was a judicial auction of watch liquidation, and the fourth, finally, of horological books.
The sales could also be followed live. The auction hall was also divided into four parts with an auctioneer for each sale. My wife Kathy acted as an auctioneer on that occasion. Each sector was a sales room.
The same situation applied online; you could simultaneously follow the four sales and choose to focus on the one that interested you. With a simple touch of the mouse, you could leave a bid or participate directly. When you wanted to participate in one of the auctions, by clicking on the chosen sector, the image would take up the entire screen, giving the buyer the same impression as attending in person.
I had a highly qualified IT engineer come from India, and he worked wonders to create the program in time for the sale. Unfortunately, we had not foreseen the enormous scale of interest that this novelty would arouse. At the opening of the sale, about 25,000 people tried to connect simultaneously. Part of the system collapsed, and only a few hundred of them managed to connect.
Despite the problems encountered, we achieved reasonable success with the sales but also a great disappointment with the program. Nowadays, it would all be more feasible, but in 2009, it was a real adventure.
The following experts collaborated with Antiquorum:
• Osvaldo Patrizzi • Kathy Bonanno Patrizzi
• Nathan Schoumolovitz (†) • Catherine Cardinale
• Madeleine Ramel (†) • Philip Poniz
• Jean-Claude Sabrier (†) • Sharon Kerman-Bailly
• Simon Bull • Richard Chadwick
• Arnaud Tellier
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