Elton John's watches and jewellery along with other items will be sold at the upcoming Christie's auctions. The title of the auction is “The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road”. The title refers to the recent sale of the music legend's home on Peachtree Road in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood.
“The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road” series will include a total of eight offerings. A mix of live, in-person and online auctions.
The first in-person sale will take place on the evening of February 21. But the online auctions will open for bids on February 9 and close on February 27 and 28.
Although the highest grossing lot overall is expected to be a work of art. Bansky's “Flower Thrower” triptych ($1-$1.5 million). But Christie's expects Elton John's Cartier “Crash” watch from 1991 to be the highest-selling watch/jewelry lot.
One of the inaugural night's pieces, the 24 mm, 18-carat gold watch is signed “Cartier, Paris” and is expected to sell for $70,000 to $100,000. It is one of only 400 Crash watches released by Cartier in 1991.
Elton John's “The Bitch Is Back” diamond pendant is expected to sell for up to $40,000. It is the name of the song he co-wrote with Bernie Taupin and released in 1974.
The opening auction will also include an 18-carat yellow gold Cartier ring with a heart-shaped mixed-cut Ceylon sapphire ring. Pre-sale estimate $50,000-80,000. Also an “exuberant and rare” Rolex Daytona with leopard print ($40,000-60,000). Still another diamond necklace that reads “The Bitch Is Back,” a hit for the singer in the 1970s ($20,000-40,000).
Many more of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner's watches and jewelry are part of one of the online auctions. “The Jewel Box,” which will be open for bidding from Feb. 9 to Feb. 27.
His collection includes watches by Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne, Roger Dubuis, Chopard, Franck Muller and Hublot. As well as jewellery by Oscar Heyman, Loree Rodkin, Munsteiner, Dinh Van and British designers Stephen Webster and Theo Fennell.
The apartment Elton John, bought in the early 1990s, was over 13,000 square feet in total. As the singer joined several residences in Atlanta's Park Place apartment building over the years.
The property sold last fall for $7.2 million.
In an interview with Christie's, the singer spoke about his time there. Even how his growing appreciation for art and photography was the reason he ended up needing more space.
“I have my taste,” said Elton John. “It may not be everybody's taste, but it's definitely my taste.
“And that was my apartment in Atlanta, it was my man cave full of things that I just loved, memorabilia from all over the world and things that I woke up to every day and it all gave me inspiration.”.
In the two weeks leading up to the sales, Christie's galleries at Rockefeller Centre will be transformed into “specially designed stunning spaces” that will offer a “dynamic look” at Elton John's life, said Christie's Americas deputy president Tash Perrin.
“We are extremely proud to present this multi-category sale, featuring an eclectic selection of photography, art, fashion and costume. A testament to one man's diverse vision, artistry and impeccable taste,” said Perrin.
The exhibition will be free and open to the public from February 9 to 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Christie's, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York.
Source: nationaljeweler.com
