This weekend November 12th and 13th, 2016, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will be hosting their Geneva Watch Auction FOUR at the Hôtel La Réserve in Genève. With a total of 196 lots offered for sale, the auction will be divided in two sessions commencing tomorrow Saturday November 12th at 6pm —Genève time GMT +1. Session One will feature the first 100 lots, while Session Two on November 13th at 6pm —Genève time GMT +1— will feature lots 101 through 196. While there are more than 10 watches we absolutely love from this auction, these are ten lots that are very special from a watch collecting standpoint and that are extremely important in the history of brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, Panerai and Audemars Piguet.
Disclaimer: Since Phillips Watches is the only one that can provide you with a 'Condition Report' for any of the watches in their auctions, our live photography or verbiage regarding these watches is for your viewing/reading pleasure only. Our images or verbiage, should never be used in lieu of a condition report from Phillips. Regardless, these live photographs have not been subject to retouching or manipulation of any kind. Therefore, dust, the actual wear on watches and lint or fingerprints left from perusing the watches will be present in our images and we apologize in advance for it.
Without a doubt, the highlight of this auction will be Lot 38, the Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in stainless steel we featured here and its siblings in 18K rose gold —Lot 196— and 18K yellow gold —Lot 100. With estimates as follows, these three watches will be breaking records for sure.
- Patek Philippe in Stainless Steel reference 1518: CHF 3 million Swiss Francs
- Patek Philippe Pink Gold reference 1518: CHF 600,000 to 1.2 million Swiss Francs
- Patek Philippe Yellow gold reference 1518: CHF 250,000 to 500,000 Swiss Francs
The Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in 18K rose gold —Lot 196— is relatively more special than the Patek ref. 1518 in 18K yellow gold offered for sale, as Lot 196 was presented as an anniversary gift to H.H. Windsor Jr. —son of the founder of Popular Mechanics magazine, avid watch collector and Editor and Publisher of the magazine upon his father's death in 1924. This particular watch not only features a magnified lens area on its crystal for the day and month appertures but also a very special engraving on its case back as the watch was gifted to Mr. Windsor by his associates and employees on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the magazine in 1952.
Another big highlight of this upcoming Phillips Geneva Watch Auction FOUR is Lot 157 the Rolex reference 6085 'The Dragon' with an estimate between 500,000 and one million Swiss Francs. The present reference 6085 is a highly important, possibly unique Rolex wristwatch fitted with a spectacular cloisonné dial depicting a coveted dragon.
Then we have Lot 55, the Rolex reference 3330 'The Perfect Rose' with an estimate between 300,000 and 600,000 Swiss Francs. The Rolex reference 3330, along with the reference 3335, is considered amongst the rarest and largest pre-Oyster Rolex chronographs ever produced by the brand. Produced in the 1940s, they boasted large cases, unique for the majority of watch brands during this time period, with a diameter of 37 mm. Fitted with its original rose-colored, multi-scale dial, every element of the watch is in absolutely pristine condition likely having spent its lifetime of 70 years unused in a safe.
A lot that will for sure be a heavy hitter is Lot 30, a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 'Paul Newman Panda' ref. 6263 with Tiffany & Co. signed dial. The estimate between a quarter to half a million Swiss Francs for this fresh-to-the-auction market and previously unknown reference 6263 Cosmograph Daytona 'Paul Newman Panda' is according to scholarship, the only known and correct example retailed by Tiffany & Co. Rolex’s exotic dial for the Cosmograph Daytona.
Another favorite is Lot 170 a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 'Linz Paul Newman' with an estimate between 200,000 and 400,000 Swiss Francs. Exceptionally rare and stunning, the present Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, reference 6239, is fitted with the only known Paul Newman dial bearing the prestigious “LINZ” retailer signature. This Dallas retailer was founded in 1877 and for generations, was one of the U.S.’s earliest and most influential luxury watch retailers.
Also among the many vintage Rolexes that will be auctioned, one that stands out is Lot 37 a Rolex Submariner ref. 6538 'Tropical Brown Four Liner' Big Crown. Due to its overall immaculate condition, the present watch holds the record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a Submariner, further highlighting its importance. It is an ultimate trophy for collectors of rare Rolex sports watches. Estimate betwen 300,000 to 600,000 Swiss Francs.
Another very important watch to make to the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction FOUR is Lot 103 an 'Unmarked' Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST 'The Beast' which we've explained in-depth here on WCL. While this watch is 'unmarked' and from the first 100 Royal Oak Offshores ever produced, the watch doesn't have the special original clasp that came with the first 500 Offshores or the original porthole box with the glass on top. While the watch has a considerably very low estimate under realistic market levels at 10,000-15,000 Swiss Francs, we think that this watch will set a new higher price for this particular reference —eager to see the results on Sunday.
Lastly, one of our ultimate favorites is Lot 82 an extremely rare and historically significant Panerai ref. 6152-1. This watch accompanied by its original strap and stainless steel buckle is also accompanied by a copy of the matriculation document from the Italian Navy documenting the original owner of the watch. This watch circa 1955 was the inspiration for the Panerai Luminor 1950 3 days PAM 372 we reviewed here. Additionally, this Panerai in a 50 mm case made by Rolex is powered by the Rolex manual wound calibre 618. Estimate CHF 80,000-120,000 Swiss Francs.
As we follow this exciting auction very closely over the weekend, stay tuned for the results as soon as they become available here on WCL.
For more info on Phillips Watches and the rest of the lots click here.
