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 Sunday, September 1, 2024, 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 108,000 under the hammer of our own Aurel Bacs.
The top lot of the evening auction was tied between an abstract painting donated by Russian independent watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin and the "Dinosharpener" pencil sharpener donated by MB&F, each achieved CHF 20,000. Our own donation – a two-day trip in Burgundy wine country – went for CHF 6,5000.
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 recently relocated 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 108,000 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 2024 Charity Auction, Top 6 Results:
Konstantin Chaykin: CHF 20,000
MB&F: CHF 20,000
Bulgari: CHF 16,000
Behrens: CHF 11,000
De Bethune: CHF 7,000
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo: CHF 6,500
Total Result: CHF 108,000
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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Phillips Is Hosting A Charity Auction During Geneva Watch Days – Here’s What You Need To Know
Geneva Watch Days: A Visit Inside the New Geneva Watchmaking School