To help raise funds in support of Geneva's local watchmaking school – the oldest in Switzerland – Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo hosted a charity auction on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, as part of the Geneva Watch Days exhibition, with all proceeds of the sale donated to the educational institution.
The auction included 15 total lots, each a unique object or experience that was donated by one of the brands participating in Geneva Watch Days, achieving an impressive total of CHF 109,800 under the hammer of our own Aurel Bacs.
The top lot of the evening auction was a miniature panda sculpture donated by MB&F & H.Moser and inspired by the pair's unique minute repeating collaboration that was unveiled earlier that day as part of the upcoming Only Watch 2023 charity auction (Phillips hosted the 2015 edition). Our own donation – a weekend at the Gstaad Palace during the resort's annual alpine classic motorsport rally – matched Bulgari's result, a weekend at the newly opened Bulgari Hotel Roma, with each achieving CHF 12,000, while two seats at the President's table during this year's GPHG gala dinner and ceremony earned CHF 11,000.
The Geneva Watchmaking School, or l’École d'Horlogerie de Genève, is one of the most important institutions dedicated to horological education in the world. Founded in 1824, the Geneva academy is the oldest watchmaking school in Switzerland, boasting an impressive list of graduates, including Christophe Claret, Roger Dubuis, Franck Muller, and Rexhep Rexhepi. The school is in the process of moving its campus, currently based in the Lancy neighborhood of Geneva, to a more modern facility in Plan-les-Ouates, the same district that houses operations for prestigious watchmakers such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, and Laurent Ferrier.
The complete sum of CHF 109,800 raised during the sale will benefit l’École d'Horlogerie de Genève during its upcoming move as well as during its upcoming bicentenary, which will be celebrated with a series of events during the 2024-2025 school year.
Geneva Watch Days 2023 Charity Auction Results:
Alpina: CHF 3,800
Angelus: CHF 2,800
Bulgari: CHF 12,000
Czapek: CHF 3,500
Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie: CHF 3,200
GMT Magazine: CHF 10,000
Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève: CHF 11,000
MB&F & H.Moser: CHF 26,000
Hautlence: CHF 5,000
Konstantin Chaykin: CHF 1,100
Oris: CHF 2,200
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo: CHF 12,000
Trilobe: 6,000
Urwerk: CHF 7,000
Total Result: CHF 109,800
About Phillips In Association With Bacs & Russo
The team of specialists at PHILLIPS Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, with its Geneva Watch Auction: XIV having realized $74.5 million in 2021. Over the course of 2021 and 2022, the company sold 100% of the watches offered, a first in the industry, resulting in the highest annual total in history across all the auction houses at $227 million.
About Logan Baker
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He splits his time between New York and Geneva.
Recommended Reading
Phillips Is Hosting A Charity Auction During Geneva Watch Days – Here’s What You Need To Know
Why You Should Care About Switzerland's Oldest Watchmaking School
The Geneva Watch Days: The Brief History Of A Young Fair Heading Toward Maturity