In a remarkable debut at Hindman’s first New York auction, the much-anticipated sale of the late Glen De Vries’ watch collection has surpassed all expectations, amassing an impressive total of over $3 million. With an astounding 95% of the 101 lots finding enthusiastic bidders, the auction garnered attention from more than 800 participants representing 45 countries. Notably, over half of the purchasers were new clients to the renowned auction house.
The star of the show was the F.P. Journe, platinum “Tourbillon Souverain Black Label,” commanding a staggering $415,800, aligning closely with estimates. Among the highlights was the F.P. Journe 18K Rose Gold ‘Octa Chronograph’ fetching $176,000 and the Richard Mille RM-6101 Yohan Blake, which realized $163,800, both within the anticipated range.
Noteworthy pieces included the A. Lange & Söhne, Ref. 720.025 Platinum “Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar” that fetched $138,600, and the A. Lange & Söhne, Ref. 139.035F “Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase Lumen,” sold for $100,800. The auction also saw fervent bidding for timepieces by distinguished brands such as Ulysse Nardin, De Bethune, Urwerk, Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Vacheron Constantin, and H. Moser & Cie.
Gemma Sudlow, Hindman’s managing director, New York Region, expressed delight at the overwhelming response from bidders. She remarked, “Glen de Vries’ passion for horology and innovation come together in this compelling group of timepieces, and our clients responded with enthusiasm.” Sudlow also conveyed the auction house’s excitement for the upcoming sales, scheduled to continue throughout the week.
Reginald Brack, Hindman’s senior VP and director of Jewelry & Watches, highlighted De Vries’ profound interest in intricate timepieces, stating, “Mr. de Vries had such a deep appreciation for the science of watchmaking, being drawn to some of the most sophisticated complications like tourbillons, perpetual calendars, flyback chronographs, and other groundbreaking mechanical achievements.”
The event, held at Hindman’s pop-up space in SoHo, was part of a series of single-owner auctions, reinforcing the auction house’s position as a leading player in the watch market. The upcoming auctions at the same location will feature captivating selections from the Joe Baio Collection of photographs and the highly anticipated Canvas & Clay: The Collection of Judith and Philip Sieg.
