Nick Kenyon
High-profile break-ups are generally only good news for the paparazzi and divorce lawyers. But auction houses can sometimes become the beneficiary of a celebrity split, too. Russell Crowe good-naturedly named the Sotheby’s Australia auction for some of his belongings “The Art of Divorce” back in 2018, and this year a split between Phil Collins and his ex-wife Orianne has seen a few pieces of horological interest hit the sales block, including one of the cheapest Patek Philippe Nautilus sales we’ve recently seen.The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1A Date Moon Phase sold for more than $15,000US under the market price. Image: kodner In an auction run by Kodner last week, five watches were listed for sale in the Jewellery & Couture Collection, Ms. Orianne Collins catalogue, including three pieces from Rolex and two from Patek Philippe. The sale reportedly raised a total of $2.2 million with $1.7 million of that coming from Orianne’s jewellery collection.The Rolex Daytona 116519LN from the sale. Image: kodner There were some extremely desirable pieces up for sale including three Daytonas, an Aquanaut 5167A and a Nautilus 5712/1A Date Moon Phase. While the three different Daytona references were already hard-to-get pieces, the Patek Philippe watches were also in increasingly high demand.The Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A that sold for $36,000US. Image: kodner This week Patek confirmed that the Nautilus 5711 will be discontinued, sending prices for the watch that retails for $33,000 USD as high as $180,000USD. Consequently, it only makes sense that adjacent references in steel – like an Aquanaut 5167A or a Nautilus 5712/1A Date Moon Phase, for example – will also lift in the secondary market.The caseback of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1A Date Moon Phase. Image: kodner The prices realised for Orianne Collins’ Aquanaut 5167A was $36,000 USD and $70,000 USD for the Nautilus 5712/1A Date Moon Phase. Compared against the most affordable prices found on Chrono24, the Aquanaut 5167A was around $8000 USD below, while the Nautilus 5712/1A Date Moon Phase was a whopping $15,000 USD below the cheapest market price. The bottom line: someone definitely got one hell of a deal here. Especially if they were a Genesis fan.
11.02.21