Today November 8, 2024, at the Reloaded: The Rebirth of Mechanical Watchmaking, 1980-1999 Auction by Phillips Watches in Geneva, Switzerland an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain à Remontoire d’Egalité sold for CHF 7,320,000 Swiss Francs —approximately USD 8.3 million— setting a new world record for any F.P. Journe watch ever sold at auction.
News: Phillips Watches Geneva Watch Auction XVIII Brings in $43 Million Dollars
This weekend November 3 and 4, 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo brought in CHF39,055,706 —$43,074,538 USD— in The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII, doubling the pre-sale low estimate of CHF 19 million. The auction, held on Friday, November 3, and Saturday, November 4, saw watch aficionados participating from across 66 countries. The atmosphere in the saleroom at La Réserve Hotel was electric and brimming with enthusiasm, as over 650 collectors attended in person and over 1,500 bidders competed online on Phillips.com, ultimately securing half of the lots offered.
From the Editor: The Omega Speedmaster Broadarrow that Sold for 3.1 Million Swiss Francs at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XIV is a 'Frankenwatch'
Back in November 2021, an Omega Speedmaster ‘Broadarrow’ ref. 2915-1 from 1957 broke all records for a Speedmaster sold at any watch auction. This particular watch, Lot 53 at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XIV sold for CHF 3.1 Million Swiss Francs. A few days ago, it has been confirmed by Omega, that the watch in question is a ‘frankenwatch’ that was put together with parts that are authentic, non-authentic, correct for the time period, and incorrect for the time period, to represent the watch in a way that it would sell for such a high price. I mean the original estimate was between CHF 80,000 and CHF 120,000 Swiss Francs.
Introducing: HYT Hastroid Rainbow Nebula Unique Piece. To Be Auctioned at TimeForArt.
Bold, colorful, and captivating, this flamboyant watch will be offered as a unique piece for sale at the Time For Art charity auction in New York. The HYT Hastroid Rainbow Nebula unique piece combines the artistic masterful expertise that guides Davide Cerrato, HYT CEO and creative director, and the feats of the mecafluid technology that are unique to this independent Swiss watchmaking brand.
From the Editor: Phillips Royal Oak 50th Sale Results. Here are the Top Lots and My Opinion.
Not sure what to think anymore about the watch market and the results of the watch auctions. I’ve been trying to understand what’s going on for several years now and the results from auctions are always very surprising but not necessary the best indicator of what’s going on. While I see trends after reviewing the results of the auctions, I also see some inconsistencies where is hard for me to understand why certain time/date watches would fetch more than Grand Complications.
From the Editor: The Phillips Royal Oak 50th Auction Taking Place Tomorrow. My Thoughts.
I was lucky to be the first journalist to peruse in person and photograph the majority of the lots part of the Phillips Watches Royal Oak 50th auction at the end of March. You can see all my pictures here. Tomorrow May 6th, the Royal Oak 50th auctionwill take place at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland. I think that not only this auction will continue to bring attention to the Royal Oak for years to come, but it will also establish some interesting world records for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
From the Editor: The Incredible AP Royal Oaks I Just Saw at the Phillips Royal Oak 50th Auction
This past Wednesday, March 23, 2022, I went to New York City to peruse and photograph the Royal Oaks that are part of the Phillips Watches Royal Oak 50th auction that will take place at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland on May 6, 2022. This sale will feature several historically important watches including case No. 2 of the original Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ reference 5402ST as well as Karl Lagerfeld’s PVD coated Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ ref. 5402ST.
Watch Auctions: Phillips 'The Royal Oak 50th Auction'. Sale Includes a 5402 'A-series' Case No. 2 and 25th Anniversary Tourbillon ref. 25831ST Case No. 1.
Phillips will host a sale especially dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak which will take place at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland on May 6, 2022. This sale will feature several historically important watches including case No. 2 of the original Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ reference 5402ST. This is the earliest example known to come to the watch auction market. The highlights also include case No.1 of the 25th anniversary Royal Oak Automatique Tourbillon and Karl Lagerfeld’s PVD coated Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ ref. 5402ST.
From the Editor: Patek Nautilus 5711 Tiffany 170th Anniversary Sells for $6.5 Million USD. My Honest Thoughts.
Well, today December 11th, 2021 in New York City, this new Patek Nautilus Tiffany 170th Anniversary ref. 5711/1A-018 just sold for $6.5 million USD at Phillips. The world of watch collecting has finally just lost its sanity. I can only think that some of the reasons behind these prices in the watch market have to do with money-laundering schemes, tax write-offs through charitable contributions, using watches as money instruments to transport funds between countries without the need to report them and/or some people who made so much money through crypto-currencies that simply don’t care anymore and would pay anything to have what they want.
News: Phillips Watches Sells $30 Million USD at Their Hong Kong Auction XIII
Phillips continues to break watch auction records and set new benchmarks for watches sold at auction. Following their very impressive sale in Geneva which achieved the highest ever sale total for a watch auction in history, Phillips realized over HK$231 million/ $30 million USD at their Hong Kong Watch Auction XIII. Selling for more than 43% of its pre-sale high estimate…
From the Editor: Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XIV Sets a Record for the Highest Ever Watch Sale Achieving Almost $75 Million USD
Last week while I was attending the GPHG 2021 as part of the jury and on my way back from visiting the new Audemars Piguet Musée Atelier in Le Brassus —special feature about it to follow—, I decided to stop by the La Réserve Genève Hotel to preview some of the lots that were offered by Phillips for their Geneva Watch Auction: XIV. Honestly, I have never seen so many incredible watches under one tent and I took some candid shots of some of them for your viewing pleasure.
News: Phillips Watches to Auction a Complete Set of Five F.P. Journe 'Souscription' Watches (Number 1 in Each Series) at The Geneva Watch Auction XIV
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is immensely proud to announce, for the first time on the market, not only a complete set of F.P. Journe ‘Souscription’ watches but more importantly the number 1 in each series, to be offered at auction in The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV in November 2021. In 1999, after years of restoring antique clocks and watches as well as making unique commission pieces for discerning collectors, François-Paul Journe set out to create his eponymous brand.
Watch Auctions: Patek Philippe ref. 570 'Calatravone', a Nautilus ref. 5711P and Four Different Series 2499s Sell for $10.6 Million USD at the Phillips GWA XIII
This past weekend May 8-9th, 2021 in Genève, Switzerland, Phillips Watches delivered —yet again— some incredible results at their Geneva Watch Auction XIII where six Patek Philippe watches within a total of 236 lots, fetched over $10.6 Million USD. A Patek Philippe ref. 570 'Calatravone', a Nautilus ref. 5711 in Platinum and Four Different 2499s all collectively broke the $10 million USD mark in another very exciting auction under the reigns of Aurel Bacs, who we like to call ‘King Midas’.
Watch Auctions: Superb Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' B-Series to be Auctioned by Phillips Watches
Launched in 1972 at Basel Fair, Audemars Piguet's introduction of the Royal Oak marked the beginning of the luxury sports watch market we know today, causing an immediate sensation as the watch industry had never seen anything comparable before. At the time the most expensive stainless steel wristwatch available, it most notably housed the extra slim calibre 2121 based on the Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 920, that would later be found in the Nautilus wristwatch.
News: Phillips Watches to Sell All Four Series of the Patek Philippe ref. 2499 and an Elusive ref. 3974R
Following its most successful year ever, with a market-leading annual auction total of over US$133 million, Phillips Watches in Association with Bacs & Russo is delighted to announce five extraordinary Patek Philippe wristwatches for this year’s Spring auction season. The full set of Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph reference 2499 series comes from a prestigious single-owner collection that took almost 20 years of dedication to put together, will lead The Geneva Watch Auction XIII, including an ultra-rare 2nd series in pink gold.
Breaking News: Paul Newman's Big Red Daytona ref. 6263 Sells for $5,475,000 USD at Phillips Watches Racing Pulse Auction
After Paul Newman’s Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona ref. 6239 set a world record on October 26, 2017, selling for $17.7 Million USD including buyer’s fees, Phillips Watches just set another record with today’s sale of the Ultimate ‘Big Red’ Daytona ref. 6263 belonging to Paul Newman himself. Consigned by his Daughter, Clea Newman Soderlund, this incredible watch sold for $5,475,000 USD at the Racing Pulse Annual Flagship New York Watch Auction, today December 12th, 2020. Gifted to Paul Newman by his wife Joanne Woodward and engraved “Drive slowly Joanne”, this Paul Newman’s Rolex ‘Big Red’ Daytona ref. 6263 came out with an estimate in excess of $1 million USD but sold more than five times above the estimate.
Breaking News: Phillips Watches to Auction Paul Newman's 'Big Red' Daytona ref. 6263
Just as if auctioning Paul Newman’s very own ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona ref. 6239 on October 26, 2017 wasn’t enough big of a deal —the watch fetched $17.7 Million USD including buyer’s fees—, Phillips Watches has just announced the sale of the Ultimate ‘Big Red’ Daytona ref. 6263 belonging to Paul Newman himself. Consigned by his Daughter, Clea Newman Soderlund, this incredible watch that will for sure set another world record, will be offered during the Racing Pulse Annual Flagship New York Watch Auction, on December 12th, 2020
News: Phillips Watches Achieves Over 30 Million Swiss Francs in The Geneva Watch Auction XI
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo achieves over CHF 30 million in the Geneva Watch Auction XI with 100% of lots sold and a record number of 2,000 online bidders. New world records at auction include a Patek Philippe Reference 1518 from 1948 in pink gold with pink dial selling for CHF 3.4 million Swiss Francs—$3.6 million USD— and two extremely rare F.P. Journe watches, a Tourbillon Souverain and a Resonance both from his original “Souscription” Series achieving a combined total of CHF 2.4 million Swiss Francs.
News: Phillips Watches GWA 11 Features an Unknown Patek Pocket Watch ref. 605 HU and Four Patek Philippe Watches from Mr. Jean-Claude Biver's Collection
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo presents additional highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction Eleven, following the earlier announcement of four extraordinary Patek Philippe watches from the private collection of Mr. Jean-Claude Biver to be included in the sale. Taking place at Hôtel La Réserve, Geneva on June 27 and 28, 2020, the double-evening sale will feature over 200 lots including important timepieces that are exceptional in terms of provenance, aesthetics, condition, and rarity
Breaking News: Phillips Watches to Participate at Baselworld 2020
For the very first time, in over 100 years, Baselworld welcomes an auction house into the fair. During this year’s fair, the world leader in watch sales, Phillips Watches —Phillips in Association with Bacs&Russo— will be at the Messeplatz. Never before has an auction house exhibited in a major watchmaking show.