Phillips Announces Auctions of the Finest Collectors’ Watches to Take Place in Geneva on 14 and 15 May 2016
Start-Stop-Reset Thematic Auction & Geneva Watch Auction: Three
Highlights On View in April in Hong Kong, New York, London and Geneva
GENEVA – 15 MARCH 2016 – Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is pleased to announce details of their auctions dedicated to the finest collectors’ watches that will take place on the evenings of 14 and 15 May 2016 at Hôtel La Réserve, Geneva. Highlights from the auctions will be available to view in Hong Kong (2 to 4 April), New York (15 to 18 April), and London (23 to 26 April) prior to the pre-sale exhibitions commencing in Geneva on Thursday 12 May.
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is proud to launch its first auction of the year with START-STOP-RESET Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs. Taking place on Saturday 14 May 2016 in Geneva, this exciting thematic sale is dedicated to stainless steel chronograph wristwatches of the highest quality and rarity – all produced by the most prestigious watch manufacturers of the last century. The Geneva Watch Auction: THREE sale on Sunday 15 May will present approximately 140 collectors’ watches of the highest quality including the top highlight, an extremely rare and highly important First Series Patek Philippe yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, ref. 2499, manufactured in 1956 that is fresh to the auction market (estimate: SFr. 800’000-1’500’000).
START-STOP-RESET Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs – 14 May, 6 PM: Following the highly successful May 2015 thematic auction Glamourous Day-Date, Phillips is honoured to partner once again with the renowned watch scholar and author, Pucci Papaleo. With the START-STOP-RESET thematic sale, a new important concept is introduced, where for the first time Phillips will produce the catalogue in collaboration with Papaleo and his world-class team. This talented team already created some of the most important watch collectors’ books in recent years. In preparing for the auction, the Phillips team of specialists and Pucci Papaleo inspected hundreds of models across four continents selecting only the finest and most interesting examples.
An event in its own right is the offering of a spectacular Rolex Ref. 4113 Split-Seconds chronograph (estimate: SFr. 800’000 to 1’400’000), for many collectors considered the most important Rolex wristwatch ever made by the firm. Scholarship tells us only twelve examples of reference 4113 were manufactured and all were encased in stainless steel. Never offered by Rolex for public sale, this rare model was presented to a select group of racing teams and their drivers by Rolex who were active in sponsoring racing events at the time. Amongst the world’s finest surviving examples in terms of originality and quality, this watch is presented in impressive overall condition and has remained virtually untouched.
An exciting selection of vintage stainless steel chronographs by the prestigious manufacture Patek Philippe is also included in the sale. Highlights are, amongst others, the Ref. 1463 “Freccero”, which could well be the best-preserved example of this reference known in stainless steel (estimate: SFr. 350’000-550’000). Since its launch in 1940, the desirability of the reference 1463 has never waned. Alongside its ultra rare sister model, reference 1563, it is the only vintage chronograph model by Patek Philippe fitted with a water-resistant case and round chronograph pushers.
Another exceptional highlight of this sale is a historically important Longines A7 (estimate: SFr. 50’000-100’000). This oversized, rotated chrome-plated pilot’s chronograph wristwatch with black dial and military markings was made for the U.S. Army in 1935. The Type A-7 'Avigation' watches were produced by Longines and Meylan in compliance to the US military’s specifications. For a short period of time, the Type A-7 was also sold to the civilian aviation market due to its specialized technical functions. Featuring a single button pusher incorporated into the crown, this military tool watch allowed pilots to easily start, stop and reset the chronograph to zero. With a massive case measuring 51 mm in diameter, they are true trophy watches for collectors of military watches.
For car aficionados, we are proud to offer a very rare and attractive Breitling Duograph, Ref. 791, formerly the property of the late Sir Jack Brabham, the three-time world champion of Formula 1 car racing (2 April 1926 - 19 May 2014). Brabham won the Formula One World Championships in 1959, 1960 and 1966. He was the only man to win a championship on a car that he himself made, in 1966. The watch is accompanied by a signed poster by Sir Jack Brabham, along with a letter from his son David Brabham confirming the watch was presented to his father in 1960 after winning the 1960 World Driver’s Championship (estimate: SFr. 30’000-60’000).
As a final highlight especially designed for the START STOP RESET auction, and entirely crafted within the Hublot manufacture workshops, a beautifully conceived Hublot stainless steel column wheel chronograph. This example stands out not only by its impressive skeleton dial, but also by its flyback UNICO chronograph in-house movement. As a one-of-a-kind model, the Big Bang Unico timepiece will be sold at auction and all proceeds directed solely in the pursuit of a charitable undertaking.
The Geneva Watch Auction: THREE - 15 May, 6 PM: The following evening, on Sunday 15 May, Phillips Watches will hold its third various owner sale titled Geneva Watch Auction: THREE. Comprised of 140 exciting, world-class selection of collectors’ wrist and pocket watches from the world’s leading brands, each was uncompromisingly selected on the basis of its condition, rarity, and quality.
A leading highlight of this auction is one of the rarest and most desirable models of all perpetual calendar chronographs: a First Series Patek Philippe ref. 2499 that has never before appeared at auction. To get a precise idea of this model, one must go back to the reference 1518 from 1941 when Patek Philippe launched what was the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series. Reference 2499 replaced reference 1518 in 1951 and was made for a period of 34 years. What makes this lot especially exciting is its freshness to the market and its immaculate, hardly ever worn state of preservation.
Amongst the top lots of an exceptional selection of Rolex watches is an extremely rare Rolex ref. 6062 featuring a black lacquer, “Star” dial (illustrated) (estimate: SFr. 500’000 to 1’000’000). Reference 6062 is one of only two models ever made by Rolex featuring a full calendar and the phases of the moon, together with reference 8171. The rarest and most exclusive are examples featuring a black dial with eight, five-pointed faceted stars for hour markers. Reference 6062s with such coveted star-shaped hour markers were bestowed the delightful nickname, “Stelline” - Italian for starlet. Another desirable feature of this watch is the absolutely correct, matching moonphase disk with black sky rather than blue. To date, only four examples are known with this configuration.
This auction will also feature a fascinating historical highlight: The only known example of a Vacheron Constantin “Chronomètre Royal” ref. 4907 in white gold (estimate: SFr. 80’000 to 140’000). Vintage “Chronomètre Royal” watches are considered by collectors and scholars to be amongst the finest ever made by any brand. In pristine condition, the case on the present example retains its original brushed and polished surfaces, strong hallmarks, and its crisp “Chronomètre Royal” engraving on its caseback. This model may be considered a masterpiece from the brand, and research shows that never before has a white metal reference 4907 appeared anywhere on the market.
Also offered at auction is a superb selection of watches with Royal provenance, each featuring the coveted Khanjar on their dials - the national emblem of Oman. These include, an extremely rare Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700 in white gold – one of only two examples known, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak A series “Jumbo” ref. 5402 in steel, a Rolex Daytona ref. 6265 in yellow gold with red Khanjar, and a Rolex Submariner ref. 1680 in yellow gold with green Khanjar.
Highlights of the Geneva auctions will be available for viewing at the following locations:
2-4 April 2016 in Hong Kong – Renaissance Harbour View Hotel
15-18 April 2016 in New York – Phillips Park Avenue Gallery
23-26 April 2016 in London – Phillips Berkeley Square
12-14 May 2016 in Geneva – Hôtel la Réserve
Start Stop Reset: 14 May 2016, 6 pm
The Geneva Watch Auction: Three: 15 May 2016, 6 pm
Viewing: 12-14 May 2016
Location: Hôtel La Réserve, Geneva
Link to more information: www.phillipswatches.com
ABOUT PHILLIPS, IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO:
The Phillips Watch Department, created in November 2014, is dedicated exclusively to the vast world of Fine Collectors Watches. The department, with teams of specialists based in Geneva, London, Hong Kong, and New York, is partnered with the firm of Aurel Bacs and Livia Russo. Bacs & Russo, specialising in Fine Collectors Watches, has been established in response to the ever-increasing need for collectors around the world to easily access scholarship, guidance and quality across the board. During the department’s inaugural year in 2015, just three auction seasons realised a total of SFr. 80 million / $80.3 million / €72.6 million. The auctions sold ten watches for over $1 million, and established multiple records, including for any stainless steel watch, for any Rolex sold at auction, and during the Only Watch Charity auction, the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction.
ABOUT PHILLIPS:
Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st Century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
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GENEVA - Asta Ponzo, PRConsultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 79 961 85 66
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