In a spectacular show of generosity and commitment to the arts, F.P.Journe has once again demonstrated its philanthropic spirit with the sale of a unique élégante 48 mm Titalyt®. This exceptional timepiece was auctioned by Aurel Bacs on September 18, 2024, in Geneva, during an event dedicated to raising funds for the renovation of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Geneva (MAMCO).
The one-of-a-kind watch fetched a remarkable final price of CHF 470,000, with all proceeds going towards the museum’s ongoing restoration efforts. The evening auction contained multiple lots, including several pieces of art, achieving a combined total of CHF 850,000. The unique élégante was the highest result of the night, the result of a 25-minute battle between three very determined international phone bidders represented at the Phillips table by Nathalie Monbaron, Alexandre Ghobti, and Arthur Touchot. The watch was eventually won by an international collector and philanthropist.
The élégante MAMCO was designed to honor the 30th anniversary of MAMCO, a renowned institution at the heart of the Swiss and international contemporary art scene. Since its opening in 1994, MAMCO has been a hub for modern and contemporary art, and F.P.Journe has been a long-standing supporter of the museum, previously contributing to its Prix Solo at the annual artgenève fair.
Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, expressed his excitement over the auction before the sale, stating: “We are honoured to once again be the auction house chosen to support a charitable cause through the sale of a unique F.P.Journe wristwatch. Francois-Paul Journe's exceptional generosity and commitment to philanthropy are well known, and this one-of-a-kind élégante dedicated to the MAMCO reflects his unwavering dedication to the arts and his passion for preserving cultural heritage.”
The watch itself is a testament to F.P.Journe’s ability to fuse tradition with innovation. Launched in 2014 after eight years of development, the élégante collection features the brand’s exclusive caliber 1210, an electromechanical movement boasting an impressive battery life of 8 to 10 years in daily use, and up to 18 years in sleep mode. Its signature motion detector ensures that the watch conserves energy when not in use, only resetting the hands to the correct time when worn again.
This unique edition, created specifically for the MAMCO auction, carries special artistic significance. Its grey luminescent dial is adorned with the letters A, R, and T in bold red, blue, and yellow, spelling out "ART" – a tribute to the iconic 1994 work Art by Maurizio Nannucci, part of MAMCO’s collection. The bezel is engraved with “30 MAMCO,” marking the museum’s three decades of contributions to contemporary art.
Housed in a Titalyt®-coated titanium case, the élégante MAMCO model retains the sleek 48 mm design seen in its standard counterparts, yet this one-off version is elevated by its bespoke features. Its luminous dial highlights Nannucci’s artwork in the dark, with the letter “R” glowing while the rest of the word remains in shadow—an artistic touch that echoes the interplay of light and text that the original artwork explores.
As with the standard élégante, the MAMCO edition is powered by the cutting-edge quartz movement developed inhouse at F.P.Journe. This high-tech mechanism, complete with a rose gold circuit board tracks that echoes the 18K rose gold movements of the mechanical models, brings both precision and durability. The movement’s sleep mode, activated after 35 minutes of inactivity, enhances battery longevity, making it an efficient and innovative evolution of watchmaking.
The funds raised from the auction of this unique timepiece will be instrumental in MAMCO’s renovation project, which is being overseen by architects Kuehn Malvezzi and CCHE. Their plans will reorganize and modernize the museum’s spaces, ensuring it continues to play a vital role in promoting contemporary art both in Switzerland and internationally.
The final sale price of CHF 470,000 stands as a testament to the power of art and philanthropy coming together for a greater cause.
Following the auction, François-Paul Journe expressed his delight with the outcome, stating: "As always, the generosity and professionalism of Aurel Bacs and his team at Phillips have allowed us to set a new world record. I would like to express my gratitude to the bidding collectors, without whom none of this would be possible, and above all to the buyer, whose generosity contributes to the renovation of the MAMCO. I thank them warmly for their availability. A huge thank you!"
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.
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