This November, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will celebrate a decade of watch auctions with the Decade One (2015-2025) thematic sale at the Hôtel Président in Geneva. This landmark sale marks the successful first 10 years of the Phillips Watches department, reflecting on the remarkable watches, record-breaking results, and new scholarship that have shaped Phillips Watches since its inaugural auction in 2015.
For the upcoming Decade One (2015-2025) auction in Geneva, we took our typical Specialists’ Picks series in a new direction.
Instead of choosing their personal favorites, each team member surprised a colleague with a watch they thought the other would love – and we filmed it. No scripts, no rehearsals. Just honest reactions between friends and experts.
Aurel Bacs & Clément Finet
Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant
Clément Finet, Senior Specialist
Clément surprised Aurel with the possibly unique Patek Philippe Ref. 2438/1 from 1954 in 18k yellow gold – the only known example featuring a luminous dial. The perpetual calendar wristwatch, Lot 80, carries an estimate of CHF 300,000 – 600,000.
In return, Aurel selected for Clément the possibly unique Patek Philippe Ref. 592 from 1941 in 18k pink gold, featuring a three-tone pink dial with Breguet numerals — the only known example in this configuration. It appears in the catalogue as Lot 21, estimated at CHF 100,000 – 200,000.
Alexandre Ghotbi & Tiffany To
Alexandre Ghotbi, Deputy Chairman, Head of Watches, Europe & Middle East
Tiffany To, Head of Sale, Watches, Geneva
Tiffany chose for Alex the Christian Klings Tourbillon No. 7 in 18k yellow gold, a unique piece from circa 2006. Independent, hand-finished, and deeply impressive – it’s exactly the kind of watch Alex loves. The watch is Lot 94, estimated at CHF 100,000 – 200,000.
Alex returned the favor with the circa 1985, possibly unique Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18059 “Rainbow Khanjar” in 18k white gold, set with multi-colored sapphires on the bezel and engraved with a red Khanjar on the caseback — indicating it was originally made for the Sultanate of Oman. It’s the only known example with a red Khanjar. The watch appears as Lot 32, estimated at CHF 700,000 – 1,400,000.
Logan Baker & Tadzio Nuno
Logan Baker, Senior Editorial Manager
Tadzio Nuno, International Business Development Strategist
Tadzio picked for Logan the unique Urban Jürgensen Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon in platinum – and it turns out Logan had some fun personal backstory to share about the watch. It’s featured as Lot 59, estimated at CHF 120,000 – 240,000.
Logan surprised Tadzio with a 2021 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Ref. 26533OR.OO.1220OR.01 in 18k pink gold with a green “Evolutive Tapisserie” dial, one of only 10 examples made. The watch is Lot 165, with an estimate of CHF 150,000 – 300,000.
You can view the complete Phillips Decade One (2015-2025) auction catalogue here.