The latest Sotheby’s Important Watches auction took place this past Saturday. More than 250 luxury watches went up for sale. As is often the case at such events, one lot in particular sold for far more than had been expected. Lot number 161, an 18 carat gold Heuer Carrera chronograph, was expected to sell for between CHF 10,000 (about US$10,215 or CA$13,200) and CHF 20,000 (about US$20,430 or CA$26,400) but ended up selling for CHF 225,000 (about US$230,000 or CA$297,000), a new record for a Heuer watch.
As you would expect, this is no ordinary watch. The 1972 Heuer Carrera reference 1158 was originally presented to Swedish Formula One driver Ronnie Peterson while he was at March by Jack W. Heuer, the great-grandson of Edouard Heuer, founder of the Heuer watch brand. The watch is engraved with the words “Success Ronnie Peterson from Jack.W. Heuer.”
Less than five hundred of the 1972 Heuer Carrera reference 1158 in 18k yellow gold are known to have been produced. It was at the time described as “the race car driver’s watch.” Earlier models had been intended exclusively for Ferrari drivers but later models were carried by others as well. At the time it was produced, it sold for CHF 950 (about US$970 or CA$1255).
The watch comes with a Société de Banque Suisse 100g 999,9 fine gold bar, the “Prix Rouge et Blanc Joseph Siffert.” This particular bar was awarded to Peterson for his 3rd place at the German Grand Prix at Nürburgring.