GENEVA.- Sotheby’s sale of Important Watches this evening was led by a highly rare Patek Philippe chronograph which fetched CHF 722,500 ($815,637) and one of the most exclusive examples of a stainless steel Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” with inverted lines, which realised CHF 206,500 ($233,150). Covering five centuries of watchmaking history, from 1580 to the present day, the 280-lot sale realised CHF 7,754,000 ($8,753,568). With strong prices for pieces made for the Chinese, Turkish and Indian markets, the sale attracted buyers from around the world and more than 300 clients had registered to participate. Commenting tonight’s results, Geoffroy Ader, Sotheby’s European Head of Watches, said: “The solid results achieved tonight both for rare models of big brands and unique historical timepieces reflect the continued broadening of the market to wider geographical areas and a new generation of sophist