Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is thrilled to welcome you to The Hong Kong Sessions, Fall 2023, online auction, running from 6:00 PM HKT, Thursday, September 21, to 6:00 PM HKT, Thursday, September 28. Featuring more than 130 different high-end luxury wristwatches, the sale covers everything from A. Lange & Söhne and F.P. Journe to Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe.
It's almost October, which means the Phillips' live Watch auctions in Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York are just around the corner – but we still have a few surprises up our sleeves before we get there. Our current online auction in Hong Kong closes in approximately 48 hours from now – it's packed with all sorts of interesting watches and hidden gems from the past few decades.
With the clock ticking to get your bids in – the sale begins to close at 6:00 PM HKT this Thursday, September 28 – our Hong Kong-based specialists and international digital team staffers decided it was time we highlight a few personal favorites from the Phillips Hong Kong Sessions, Fall 2023, Online Auction.
Lot 8069: A Circa 2021 TAG Heuer Carrera 'Dato' Limited Edition For Hodinkee Ref. CBK221D
Estimate: HKD $30,000 - 60,000
Zi Yong Ho, Co-Head of Sale, Specialist, Hong Kong
After the success of the 2017 Carrera Skipper Limited Edition between TAG Heuer and Hodinkee, the pair followed it with the Carrera "Dato" Limited Edition, another home run between the two parties. The design concept is relatively straightforward, preserving as much as possible of the look and feel of the original 1960s Heuer 3147N "Dato 45." The end product features a clean jet black dial, with polished hours markers and a distinctive white sub-register and a simple "Swiss" wordmark at six o'clock. It's the perfect tribute to the original '60s Heuer creation but built for modern wearability.
Lot 8060: A Circa 2007 Cartier Rotonde Jour et Nuit CPCP Ref. 28721 In 18k Pink Gold
Estimate: HKD $70,000 - 140,000
Gertrude Wong, Co-Head of Sale, Specialist, Hong Kong
I'm a fan of Cartier’s elegant design ethos, so it's no surprise the Rotonde Jour et Nuit stuck around my mind. It takes a second look to understand how the hour is displayed. Time telling with a pair of hands? What’s the fun in that?
A reinterpretation of Cartier's Jour et Nuit (Day & night) watches, the Rotonde Jour et Nuit changes things up with the addition of a rotating disc. The hour display is illustrated on the dial – it's the beaming sun in the middle of the watch, pointing to 11:00 in the image above. The shift to nighttime is indicated by a clear moon surrounded by a starry sky.
A rather large diameter for a Cartier, the Rotonde Jour et Nuit is understandably sized at 42mm in order to showcase the beauty of its engraved rotating disc. Even better, the model was part of the CPCP collection powered by the wonderfully finished manual wound caliber 9903MC. A timepiece that is certainly an icebreaker, the present lot is also complete with its certificate and presentation box.
Lot 8058: A Circa 2007 Zenith Grande ChronoMaster XXT Tourbillon Limited Edition In 18k White Gold
Estimate: HKD $95,000 - 160,000
Lydia Ip, Cataloguer, Hong Kong
Sleek, speedy, and splendid, the Zenith Grande ChronoMaster XXT Tourbillon is one of my favorites from this season's Hong Kong Sessions online auction.
The asymmetrical dial on the timepiece is fascinating. It resembles a nautilus shell, spiraling toward the ever-revolving tourbillon. The execution of the tourbillon is captivating, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Inside the watch is Zenith's legendary El Primero chronograph movement, ticking at 36,000 vibrations per hour.
It's a shame that I have a tiny wrist that could not fit the watch's 45mm diameter, but I genuinely hope it finds a home with a watch enthusiast like me, who has a soft spot for an open heart.
Lot 8106: A Circa 1991 Jaeger-LeCoultre Reserve De Marche 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Ref. 270.2.64 In 18k Pink Gold
Estimate: HKD $80,000 - 160,000
Yunyi Xu, Cataloguer, Hong Kong
There is something enchanting about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso that is unlike any other watch - for me it’s the cool mechanism of the reversible case and the Art Deco aesthetics. The fact that the reversible case concept was conceived in 1931 for polo players seeking protection on the playing field further adds to my intrigue around the Reverso.
The present Reserve De Marche 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is elegantly cased in 18k pink gold, with a power reserve indication positioned at 11 o'clock. On the reverse, the intricacies of the movement are revealed with a shimmering Côtes de Genève finish on the gilt bridges, providing the watch a dramatically different look. This dashing dual-personality reminds me of one of my favourite novels, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Complete with accessories and superbly preserved, this circa 1991 Reverso can change alongside your mood; it's sure to charm on any occasion.
Lot 8019: A Circa 2000s Daniel Roth Master Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Limited Edition In 18k Yellow Gold
Estimate: HKD $140,000 - 240,000
Arthur Touchot, International Head Of Digital Strategy, Specialist
The neo-vintage, gold and yet affordable perpetual calendar is a genre within a genre. But an exciting one, with plenty of options when you consider watches from the start of the century (made by independents such as Roger Dubuis, Frank Muller, and Daniel Roth) as well as watches from the last (examples from Piaget, Audemars Piguet, and IWC can be purchased with similar budgets).
The Master Perpetual Calendar Chronograph stands tall within this group, as it ticks a lot of boxes: It was made by a generational talent, Daniel Roth, and is instantly recognizable as one of his creations thanks to its iconic case shape. At 38mm × 40mm, it also sits perfectly on the wrist and is – stylistically – one of the most versatile options compared to its peers.
As someone who appreciates balanced designs, the thoughtful division of the dial and the central position of its moon-phase is extremely satisfying. The blued hands, guilloche motif, and Breguet numerals are other reminders of Daniel Roth’s appreciation of, and professional past with Breguet, another brand I’m extremely partial to.
There are very few like it: Daniel Roth made another 14 in yellow gold, while another 15 movements were cased in white gold. All of which makes this a very interesting proposition for collectors of the genre.
Lot 8042: A Circa 2008 Panerai Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio PAM00306 Limited Edition
Estimate: HKD $160,000 - 240,000
Logan Baker, Senior Editorial Manager
I’ll be honest, I’ve never historically been much of a Panerai guy. I can certainly appreciate the history and the aesthetics of the Radiomir and Luminor, but it’s always been hard to picture one on my wrist as a daily wearer. Is the PAM00306 the Panerai that changes it all for me? Not likely, but there’s something about the model that kept drawing me back as I went through the Hong Kong Sessions catalog.
The combination of the cool, matte grey titanium case paired with the rich chocolate brown dial felt irresistible. And I must admit, I do love a watch with a few tricks up its sleeve – and the PAM00306 has plenty of them. It offers dual-time capability and a substantial six-day power reserve, but the real mechanical treat is only visible when you flip the watch over.
Tucked in between the movement’s three barrels, and corresponding bridges, is a spinning tourbillon that rotates 360 degrees on a perpendicular axis every 30 seconds. It’s an impressive sight – but you have to know it’s there to find it. Panerai only produced 150 examples of the Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio in the late 2000s – the watch in this sale is number 53 of that series.
Hell, maybe I’m a Panerai guy after all.
You can learn more, place a bid, and view the entire Hong Kong Sessions, Fall 2023, catalog right here.
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.
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