Pablo Picasso's Personal Watch Sells for $270,000 USD
20 times its pre-sale estimate.
Pablo Picasso‘s Michael Z. Berger watch has just sold for the surprising amount of €219,050 EUR (approximately $267,000 USD) over at Bonhams — roughly 20 times its pre-sale estimate.
Catherine Yaiche, Director Bonhams France, who was the auctioneer for the Paris sale, said: “This is an exceptional way to end this sale. I am happy to have been able to open our 2021 sales calendar in France and to conclude our sale by bringing down the gavel on this extremely rare Picasso watch, which blends art, luxury and the history of one of the most famous personalities in the world.”
The stainless-steel manual Swiss watch dates back to 1960 and features the artist’s name spelled out in representation of the hour markers. This was also the watch Picasso was seen wearing in his famous portraits by Cecil Beaton. As one of the last items to go up for auction from the watch sale, collectors swarmed in on the lot causing a commotion over the internet and telephone bidding system, eventually landing on its final sale price after a long bidding war which was met with loud applause from the saleroom.
In other watch news, the life or death reason why the trend for green watch dials is far from over.
