A picture from the auction

Earlier, we brought you the news about the world’s largest private Swatch collection going under hammer at Sotheby’s. The auction happened this Tuesday at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale and the winner was ready to pay HK$46.7 million for this unique lot consisting of 5,800 pieces, including exclusive prototypes, limited and special edition Swatch watches from 1983 to 2007, and collected artwork relating to Swatch designs.

According to Sotheby’s, the winning bid was placed by phone after over 30 bids from at least 3 bidders.

The seller, Mr Paul Dunkel, commented after the sale,

“I have been very happy and emotional to see the international interest in my collection over the past months. This is a true testament to the universal appeal of Swatch. I would like to deeply thank Sotheby’s for their hard work, as well as my art advisor, 1858 Limited, for expertly managing all aspects of the sale on my behalf. I wish the new owner of these 5,800 pieces all the best and hope the collection will bring to others as much joy as I have had with it over the last 25 years of this adventure.”

The story of the Dunkel Collection, should be studied and taught as the perfect example of the great results a collection built with passion, knowledge and rigour could bring.

Swatch Prototypes, part of the Dunkel Collection