"The Asprey," a Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph watch reference 2499, is pictured during a press preview ahead of the upcoming auction at Sotheby's in Geneva, Nov. 7, 2018.

Still, Sotheby’s bested the rest at the Geneva watch auction sales this month with its $3.9 million Patek Philippe “Asprey,” proving that provenance and history remain key for big sales.

Time is money. One of the world's most coveted watches, known as the "Asprey," may fetch up to $4 million at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva next week. The Patek Philippe wristwatch was assembled in ...

Wenhao Yu, Sotheby’s jewelry and watches chairman in Asia, is not involved with the Asprey collection, but he wrote in an email that interest in jadeite, always high in Asia, had been increasing ...