Bonhams online sale spotlights “mecca” world time

Bonhams brings rare "mecca" Patek and vintage Rolex to online bidders

By Andrew McGrotty Published April 20, 2025

Mecca Patek Phillipe yellow background — Patek Phillipe

Bonhams is planning a digital horology auction this month. It includes select timepieces representing numerous decades of quality watch production. The online event occurs between April 18 and April 24. About one hundred time-measuring devices, obtained solely from personal holdings, form the collection.

Among the important elements of this digital sale is a platinum Patek Philippe World Time (ref. 5130P-001). It’s noticeable green guilloché center has the infrequent “Mecca” identifier. Made around 2011, this complicated device, reflecting both its technical nature and cultural import, is expected to sell for $150,000 to $250,000.

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Collectors interested in vintage items may like a steel Rolex reference 8171. The timepiece is from the early 1950s. People call it “Padellone,” an Italian name meaning “big frying pan.” The label references the then-large 38mm case measurement. This moonphase model has several intricate mechanisms for a vintage Rolex watch. It should command between $45,000 to $65,000.

The online catalog contains a white gold Patek Philippe Grand Complications (ref. 5140G-001) perpetual calendar. It also has a moon phase, and could sell for $30,000 to $50,000. The piece displays the company’s skill in classical complications made in a modern style.

A Breguet Hora Mundi (ref 5717) in platinum presents an interesting option for collectors who seek advanced world timers different from the typical Patek models. The watch face shows the Americas continent and offers a dual time zone display – its projected sale price is $20,000-$30,000.

Also of note is a Patek Philippe Gondolo Calendario (ref 5135p), decorated with diamonds. The platinum annual calendar has a graceful tonneau shape. A complex grey face reveals day, date, month, along with the lunar cycle. Auction expectations for this item are $20,000-$30,000.

The digital format permits global collectors to take part in the sale. This represents a strategic action by Bonhams. With accessible online bidding, Bonhams engages the profitable American market, instead of using regular in-person auctions.

Andrew McGrotty

Andrew is a full-time freelance writer with expertise in the luxury sector. His content is informative and always on trend.

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Fashion & Style

Tudor honors cycling legend with yellow Pelagos tribute watch

Tudor celebrates cycling champion's Tour de France with exclusive timepiece

Tudor fxd chrono yellow promo pic

Tudor announced the release of its Pelagos FXD Chrono "Yellow," a limited edition watch honoring Swiss cycling legend Fabian Cancellara as he returns to the Tour de France after nearly a decade away from the sport's most prestigious event.
The 300-piece collection celebrates Cancellara's remarkable Tour de France legacy, where he wore the race leader's yellow jersey for 29 days and claimed eight stage victories during his professional career. The watch serves as both tribute and talisman as Cancellara transitions from retired champion to team owner of Tudor Pro Cycling Team.
"Every child has heroes; someone they look up to. For me, it was the Tour that produced those heroes," Cancellara said in a statement. "This was where my personal heroes were formed."
Cancellara last competed in the Tour de France in 2016 before retiring shortly after. His return to the race in 2025 marks a significant milestone, not as a competitor but as the leader of a team he conceived just three years ago.
The limited-edition timepiece reflects Tudor's partnership with professional cycling and its ambassador's storied career. Number 7 of the collection has been reserved for Cancellara, matching his signature racing number.
Known for his prowess in time trials and one-day classics, Cancellara emerged as an international cycling star after his breakthrough performance in the 2004 Tour de France prologue. His career trajectory from relatively unknown rider to global cycling icon mirrors the evolution of his current team.
"The pain is temporary, but the memories from this race last forever," Cancellara noted, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of professional cycling.
The Pelagos FXD Chrono "Yellow" features Tudor's signature diving watch design adapted for cycling professionals, incorporating elements that reference the iconic yellow jersey worn by Tour de France race leaders.
Tudor Pro Cycling Team, under Cancellara's direction, represents his vision of nurturing the next generation of cycling talent. The limited-edition watch symbolizes both his past achievements and future aspirations in the sport.
The timepiece will be available through select Tudor retailers, with each of the 300 pieces individually numbered.

Fashion & Style

Zenith’s summer dream watch ends epic Surfer collaboration

Zenith and Time+Tide complete surfer trilogy with white ceramic masterpiece

Skyline skeleton surfer ceramic blue background

Zenith and Time+Tide have completed their celebrated "Surfer Trilogy" with the release of the Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic, marking the third and final collaboration between the Swiss manufacturer and the Australian watch media company.
The 100-piece limited edition follows the success of previous collaborations: the micro-blasted titanium Defy Classic Skeleton Night Surfer in 2021 and the Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero in 2023. Both earlier releases sold out quickly, establishing this partnership as one of the watch industry's most successful ongoing collaborations.
The new White Surfer Ceramic maintains the signature blue gradient openworked dial concept that appears across all three editions while introducing a fresh summer aesthetic. The 41mm white ceramic case offers scratch resistance and ultra-light comfort, making it suitable for beach activities with 10 ATM water resistance.
"With this third chapter in our collaboration, we're not just continuing a story, we're elevating it," said Benoît de Clerck, CEO of Zenith. "Each edition has deepened our creative dialogue, and this new release is the boldest expression yet of what we can achieve together."
The timepiece features a gradient blue dial that transitions from darker blue at the top to light blue at the bottom. The bridges adopt Zenith's five-pointed star design filled with Super-LumiNova, a feature previously seen only in the original Night Surfer model.
Powering the watch is the skeletonized automatic El Primero 3620 SK caliber, rendered in matching blue tones. The high-frequency movement beats at 5Hz and offers approximately 55 hours of power reserve. Its 1/10th second hand is driven directly from the escapement, maintaining Zenith's chronograph heritage.
"There's a huge risk in trying for a trilogy when the first two collabs have been so popular," noted Andrew McUtchen, founder of Time+Tide. "But when we saw the prototype of an 'inverted' Night Surfer, in brushed white ceramic, we just had to make it happen."
The watch includes both an integrated white ceramic bracelet and a white patterned rubber strap. Zenith's quick strap-change mechanism allows tool-free switching between options, enhancing versatility for different activities.
The Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic represents a significant departure from the darker titanium finishes of previous collaborations, embracing a lighter, summer-focused aesthetic while maintaining the technical excellence that defined the series.
The limited edition will be available through Time+Tide, authorized Zenith retailers worldwide, and Zenith's physical and online boutiques. Given the rapid sellout history of previous Surfer editions, collectors are expected to act quickly when the watch becomes available.
With this release, Zenith and Time+Tide conclude what has become one of the most successful ongoing collaborations in contemporary watchmaking, spanning four years and three distinct timepieces that redefined collaborative watch design.

Fashion & Style

How to spot a true limited edition watch (and avoid overpriced hype)

The truth about limited edition watches: How brands fake exclusivity

A row of four luxury watches.

‘Limited edition’ is a term long linked with exclusivity, prestige, and rarity – in the realm of luxury timepieces, this typically comes with hefty price tags. But what if it references only the term and is merely the illusion of exclusivity? No two brands are the same, and the same applies to two limited editions. While some are actually scarce, many others are simply marketing tools used to build up hype and create an artificial demand for the item. Watch enthusiasts understand the intricacies in order to avoid purchasing exclusivity that does not exist. It is important to know thy luxury, plus when and why limited editions aren’t always rare.

Playing the numbers game