The single-owner ‘Champion Collection’ is an incredible treasure trove of the world’s most desirable contemporary wristwatches. This online auction continues the series of themed sales of watches from the Champion Collection and is devoted to the fascinating production of the storied Italian watch house - Officine Panerai. The company was founded in Florence by Giovanni Panerai in 1860 and became world-famous as the official supplier of precision instruments to the Italian Royal Navy. Today, Panerai’s distinctive and unique minimalist aesthetic drawn from its military past is admired by collectors of haute horology the world over. This meticulously curated auction will impress both the seasoned collector and new private buyer with the sheer variety of Panerai models offered here and the like-new condition of most of the watches, many of which come complete with full set of accessories and boxes.

One of the chief glories of the Champion Collection is that it comprises such a wide variety of exceptional watches that would almost never be seen together at any one time. This Panerai auction is no exception and offers some of the most desirable and hard to find models of the company’s modern production. Some are watchmaking masterpieces including the titanium 1950 Luminor GMT Perpendicular Tourbillon, PAM00306, one of the most complicated ever made by the company. Another much sought after classic is the PAM00203, made as a tribute to the original 1950 Luminor 8-day power-reserve model and featuring an original Angelus 240 movement that was especially refurbished for the edition. An intriguing and beautiful model is the Luminor 1950 Firenze 3- Days Acciaio, PAM 972. Only available from the historic Florence boutique, it is individually hand engraved with ‘Florentine’ engraving by a single artisan to celebrate the city’s 600-year tradition of fine engraving. The platinum cased PAM021 is considered by many Panerai collectors to be the “grail of grails”, featuring a caliber 618 movement made by Rolex, just as the original Panerai watches manufactured between the 1930s and 1950s. Rarely seen on the open market, the superb styling of the rose gold Radiomir chronograph, PAM00519, epitomizes the diverse Panerai rarities within the Champion Collection. Christie’s is excited to be able to offer to international collectors these, and many other exemplary Panerai highlights in this unique auction.