Eric Clapton watch sells for $3.6mn at auction

A platinum wristwatch belonging to British guitarist Eric Clapton sold for 3.4 million Swiss francs ($3.6 million, 2.9 million euros) in Geneva Monday, AFP reports citing auction house Christie's. The "exceptionally rare" watch made by Patek Philippe in 1987 was snapped up by an anonymous Asian buyer, Christie's spokesman Christiano De Lorenzo told AFP, adding that the price was in the middle of the estimate. The only other time the platinum perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases was on auction, in 1989, it sold for just $250,999. Clapton, 67, known for his work with rock bands Cream and the Yardbirds and for songs including "Crossroads", "Layla" and "Tears in Heaven", had purchased the luxury timepiece privately after that auction for an undisclosed price, De Lorenzo said. The British guitarist's watch did not fetch the highest price at the Christie's "Important Watches" auction, where sales totalled 27.04 million Swiss francs. That honour went to another Patek Philippe platinum wristwatch, made especially for American collector J.B. Champion in 1952, which raked in 3.78 million Swiss francs. It thereby set "a world auction record for a watch without complications," Christie's said.

A platinum wristwatch belonging to British guitarist Eric Clapton sold for 3.4 million Swiss francs ($3.6 million, 2.9 million euros) in Geneva Monday, AFP reports citing auction house Christie's. The "exceptionally rare" watch made by Patek Philippe in 1987 was snapped up by an anonymous Asian buyer, Christie's spokesman Christiano De Lorenzo told AFP, adding that the price was in the middle of the estimate. The only other time the platinum perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases was on auction, in 1989, it sold for just $250,999. Clapton, 67, known for his work with rock bands Cream and the Yardbirds and for songs including "Crossroads", "Layla" and "Tears in Heaven", had purchased the luxury timepiece privately after that auction for an undisclosed price, De Lorenzo said. The British guitarist's watch did not fetch the highest price at the Christie's "Important Watches" auction, where sales totalled 27.04 million Swiss francs. That honour went to another Patek Philippe platinum wristwatch, made especially for American collector J.B. Champion in 1952, which raked in 3.78 million Swiss francs. It thereby set "a world auction record for a watch without complications," Christie's said.

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