Introduced in 1993, the iconic PATEK PHILIPPE reference 5016 was the most complicated wristwatch in production until Patek debuted reference 5002, the Sky Moon Tourbillon, in 2001. Patek Philippe's 2009-2010 Collection booklet describes the now discontinued reference 5016 as follows: "Its classic Calatrava case in yellow, rose or white gold or platinum unites the complications most highly prized by those with a passion for exceptional watches: the tourbillon, the minute repeater and the perpetual calendar - completed with a retrograde date hand and a moon phase display. The movement making this masterpiece possible comprises 506 parts." Offered for the first time at auction and complete with all its accessories and in unworn condition, an opportunity to acquire one of the most complicated masterpieces by Patek Philippe.

Favoured by specialised collectors, the reference 6262 is basically an upgraded 6239 featuring the new movement reference 727. Produced during one year only, this niche reference can only follow its sister references in ranks of collectablity. Kept in wonderful condition with a case indicating less than average polish, its original dial is in wonderful condition with all original luminous plots still present.

Property of the original Swiss owner.

The Polar Explorer Douglas Roland Otway Prior, known as Doug, served with the advance party of the 1956 Royal Society Antarctic Expedition International Geophysical Year, and assisted, in no small part, towards the successful outcome of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955 to 1958 - the first crossing of Antarctica. The award of Prior's Polar Medal, Great Britain and the Commonwealth's highest award for exploratory endeavour in the polar regions, was announced in June 1957. The advance party of the 1956 Royal Society Antarctic Expedition International Geophysical Year comprised of only 10 men under Surgeon Lieutenant Commander David Geoffrey Dalgliesh, took place against the backdrop of the Cold War. They arrived in Antarctica in January 1956, took formal possession of the area for Queen Elizabeth II, and established the IGY station at Halley Bay, on the Brunt Ice Shelf of Coat's Land on the coast of the Weddell Sea. During the winter of 1956 they completed the construction of the station and initiated a pilot scientific programme. By 1st July 1957, the scientific programme at Halley Base was well under way, consisting of meteorology, geomagnetism, seismology, glaciology and ionospheric observations. The Cold War super-power politics and competition between the USA and USSR resulted in the establishment of highly symbolic manned research stations during the IGY - at the South Pole by the Americans and at the Pole of Inaccessibility (the furthest point from all coastlines) by the Soviets. The immediate legacy of the IGY included the establishment of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) on 3 February 1958, the signing of the Antarctic Treaty on 1 December 1959 and the Year of International Geophysical Co-operation (IGC) which ran from 1 January to 31 December 1959 and continued much of the IGY's work. As a member of the 1956 Royal Society Antarctic Expedition International Geophysical Year, Prior found himself involved in the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955 to 1958, establishing the base during the winter of 1956 at Halley Bay on the Weddell Sea, at one end of what would become the first crossing of Antarctica under the famous polar explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs and the Everest mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary. This was the last great polar expedition to the Antarctic, matching the importance of Roald Amundsen's conquest of the South Pole in 1911 and the Heroic Age's expeditions of Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. It was Fuchs, together with Edmund Hillary and the assistance of a small number of men that included Douglas Prior, that resulted in the completion of the last goal of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Polar Exploration, the ability to be able to finally claim to have completed the crossing of Antarctica and therefore the last great polar achievement in the southern hemisphere. As Hillary himself stated, this was not the climbing of a mountain, this was the crossing of an entire continent, achieved in far more extreme conditions over far longer. It was his greatest endeavour. The book 'The Crossing of Antarctica' by Sir Vivian Fuchs and Sir Edmund Hillary tells the story of this great expedition. Amazingly, after the expedition Doug Prior sent the watch back to Rolex UK, as these watches were on loan only as a scientific experiment. As Rolex were generous, or were smart marketers, they sent the watch back as a gift, which is documented in the accompanying letter from Rolex UK that mentions the serial number. Furthermore it comes with its rare fitted box still bearing his address and name on it and photos of Doug including one where his trusty Rolex Explorer can clearly be seen. While it is unknown how many of these Explorers were given watches to test, at least one more is still in possession of another Explorer on this expedition, one can assume that between 5 and 10 only were given out for trials and this is the first of its kind to appear at an international auction. Apart from the Everest expedition, one can say that this is probably one of the most important expeditions on which early Rolex Explorers were tested making this watch a truly historical timepiece.

Property of the original British owner. Considered by many collectors as a true holy grail, the explorer dial Submariner has always held a special place in the collector's heart. Found also in the 5513 Submariner as well as in the 6538 and 6200, its distinctive dial layout is one of the most pleasing designs ever designed. Scholars seem to agree that many of these were delivered to the UK, such as this piece, maybe due to the diving/military connection. Featuring pointed crown guard and a low serial number dating to 1961, the 5512 Explorer Submariner is one of the rarest variants of the time. With a wonderful gilt dial featuring an underline that has been maintained in excellent condition, it is sure to please the most discerning vintage sport Rolex model collectors and has never appeared on the market until today.