Four Highlight Watches from Tomorrow's Christie's Rare Watches Auction in Geneva

At tomorrow's Christie's auction at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, 255 lots will go up for bidding started at 10:00 a.m CET Here are a few of the highlights spanning the 19th century, including a pocket watch once owned by the co-founder of Patek Philippe, Jean-Adrien Philippe.

WatchTime's take: Epitomizing the last 35 years as the company's benchmark grand complication, Reference 2499 went through four iterations of which just 349 total examples were made, coming to around 10 watches a year The third series models are distinguished from their predecessors by rounded chronograph pushers, applied baton and numerals, a lack of tachymeter scale, and a slightly smaller diameter WatchTime's take: Once the property of Jean-Adrien Philippe, the co-founder of Patek Philippe - and consigned by his descendants -the pocketwatch features the famous design of the two wheel train independent center seconds movement and is one of the first versions to be produced according to Swiss patent No.

1017, dating May 1889 A similar watch, No 80'050, was sold on January 31, 1894, to Jean-Adrien Philippe.

3525 has the further distinction of being known as the "POW" or prisoner of war watch since it was the model supplied directly by Rolex to captured Western Allied airmen incarcerated in German camps WatchTime's take: Saving perhaps the best for last, the 36-mm pink gold Rolex reference 6062 "Stelline" triple calendar with moon phase and, most notably, the celebrated star dial, is one of only two Rolex models from the period to feature the complication. . Source