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.
Posts filed under Watch Auctions
Introducing: MB&F HM10 Panda for ONLY Watch 2021
This year marks the ninth edition of ONLY Watch, a biennial charity auction of one-of-a-kind timepieces where 99 percent of proceeds go to fund research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration primarily affecting young boys. This is the sixth time MB&F has contributed one of its Machines to ONLY Watch, once again going above and beyond in the creation of a truly unique timepiece.
From the Editor: Seems I've Identified the Gregory Pau that Consigned the Olive Green Patek Nautilus to Antiquorum
Well, I’ve done my thorough research as this is a very hot topic. Yesterday, I told you about the Patek Philippe Nautilus ‘Olive Green’ ref. 5711/1A-014 that sold for almost half a million dollars —$490,000 USD to be precise— at the Antiquorum auction in Monaco. After my rant about the watch industry and the nonsense going on with regards to the pricing bubble and the lack of inventory from brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex, it’s time to now release some details on who the consigner of the watch seems to be.
From the Editor: Sealed Patek Nautilus 'Olive Green' Sold for $490,000 USD by Antiquorum Showing the Original Purchaser's Name. What's Next?
When I saw Antiquorum’s lot 152 —the new Patek Philippe Nautilus ‘Olive Green’ ref. 5711/1A-014— offered for sale at their auction at the Monte Carlo Hotel de Paris in Monaco today, the first questions that came to my mind were: Where is the watch industry going? Why are some watch collectors so greedy? Is someone getting blacklisted over this?
Experience: Our Five Favorite Watches for ONLY Watch 2021
Under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and at the initiative of Luc Pettavino, President of Association Monégasque Contre les Myopathies, the ONLY Watch auction is happy to reveal the names of the 54 brands participating in the 9th edition of the biennial charity auction, whose aim is to raise funds for research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the 53 lots that will be auctioned.
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: Bonhams to Auction Pablo Picasso's Watch. Provenance and Ownership Means Everything.
Picasso is revered in the art world and beyond for such masterpieces as Guernica, La Vie, and Girl Before a Mirror, but in the world of horology, it is a small collection of relatively humble timepieces owned by the Master of Modern Art which are admired rather than his artistic talents. The Picasso watch bears the name of the artist himself, with the letters forming the hour markers on the dial. Two watches like these were known to exist with awareness of a third one with whereabouts unknown until now
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.
News: Vacheron Constantin to Auction a Les Cabinotiers Unique Piece in Collaboration with the Louvre Museum
A partner of the Louvre Museum since 2019, Vacheron Constantin is auctioning a Les Cabinotiers watch at the "Bid For the Louvre" sale organized online from December 1st to 15th by the Louvre Museum and Christie's, with the support of Drouot. More than a watch, this model represents a unique opportunity for its buyer to enjoy an unforgettable experience poised at the intersection of art and craftsmanship, between Paris and Geneva.
News: Bonhams 'Dive into the Blue' Hong Kong Watch Auction. Featuring Some of the Best Blue Dial Watches.
Colored dials in watches are taken for granted now, though, in fact, they are a relatively modern development —especially in blue. Because of that, In its December 2, 2020 auction, Bonhams Hong Kong will offer a series of blue-dial wristwatches, tracing the history of what is now the hottest style trend in horology. Colored dials have their origins in the 1970s, when chronographs and dive watches used bright orange and zesty yellow to accent details, allowing wearers —mostly pilots and divers— to read the time in a clearer and faster manner.
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 To Sell Mythical Patek Philippe ref. 2523/1 in Rose Gold at Geneva Watch Auction TWELVE
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is delighted to announce the sale of a Patek Philippe reference 2523/1 world time wristwatch in rose gold, to be auctioned during The Geneva Watch Auction Twelve on November 6th and 7th, 2020. The star lot of Phillips’ upcoming double-evening auction, this extremely rare double-crowned world time model with guilloché dial is one of only four known.
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
News: Cory Richards' Overseas Dual Time Prototype Sells for $106,260 USD at Phillips Watches Game Changers Auction
The Vacheron Constantin Cory Richards’ Overseas Prototype was auctioned at Phillips Watches last night December 10th in New York City as part of the Phillips’ Game Changers auction. The Phillips Game Changers auction was dedicated to watches owned by extraordinary people who are considered “game changers” in their fields. Along with Cory Richards’ watch, other important watches were offered for sale including Jack Nicklaus’ Rolex Day-Date as well as Marlon Brando’s Rolex GMT Master.
News: Presenting the UR-Bethune Moon Satellite. A One-Off Signed De Bethune x Urwerk for ONLY Watch Auction.
Expressing the perfection of the celestial order, this unique timepiece is a complex interaction of mechanisms specific to De Bethune and Urwerk and a true fusion of their watchmaking genes. This one-off watch signed De Bethune x Urwerk has been expressly made for the ONLY Watch auction taking place next November 9, 2019. In support of the ONLY Watch biennial charity auction of unique timepieces, De Bethune and Urwerk have joined their creative energies for the very first time to bring a timepiece unlike any other.
News: Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT Master Featured in 'Apocalypse Now' to be Auctioned by Phillips Watches
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, the leading auction house for collectors’ timepieces of the highest quality, is pleased to announce the theme of its next New York Auction. Taking place on December 10th, 2019, the Game Changers Auction will be a tightly curated thematic auction dedicated to watches owned by extraordinary people who are considered “game changers” in their fields. The evening sale will also include iconic collectors’ models from leading brands that have changed the course of watchmaking and watch collecting, alongside other important timepieces that are outliers in terms of provenance, aesthetics, condition, and rarity.
