Our final live auction of the spring 2026 season, The Phillips New York Watch Auction: XIV, takes place on 13–14 June at our Manhattan headquarters, bringing together more than 150 exceptional watches in a carefully curated sale. Ahead of the auction, we’ll be highlighting some of its most compelling timepieces and stories, including the lots featured in this article.
By Steven Rogers
In watch collecting, celebrity provenance can completely change the way a watch is perceived. A signature on a caseback, an archival photograph, or a documented appearance on the wrist of a notable figure can transform a watch from a simple object into a tangible link to a particular personality or moment in time.
At Phillips’ The New York Watch Auction: XIV, that provenance takes on a decidedly entertainment-driven angle. From classic Hollywood and rock royalty to arena shows and modern music culture, the upcoming sale brings together no fewer than six watches that boast showstopping credentials.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5004G-020 Previously Owned by Eric Clapton
If Eric Clapton needs no introduction as one of the defining guitarists of the last 60 years, the same is true of his standing in the world of watch collecting.
Long before celebrity watch culture became a fixture of social media, “Slowhand” had already built a reputation among seasoned collectors for his refined taste, helping fuel interest in everything from vintage Universal Genève chronographs to highly complicated Patek Philippes.
Among the many references associated with Clapton, few can carry the weight of the Patek Philippe Ref. 5004.
Produced between 1994 and 2010, the model occupies an important chapter in modern Patek Philippe history as the brand’s first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph with split-seconds functionality.
Alongside the references 5070 and 5970, it also belongs to the final generation of Patek Philippe watches powered by Nouvelle Lemania-based calibers, a detail that has helped elevate these references to legendary status among collectors.
The present watch, however, pushes things further. Formerly in Clapton’s personal collection, this 36.5mm white-gold reference 5004G-020 is fitted with a distinctive “rose” dial featuring tachymeter scale, dot indexes, and a sole applied Breguet numeral at 12 o’clock – part of a small series of special-order configurations commissioned by Clapton himself.
Making its public auction debut, it is the first example known in this configuration and most probably a unique piece. And much like the former Cream frontman’s guitar playing, the bespoke dial is rich and warm.
Urban Jürgensen Reference 3 Previously Owned by Robin Williams
Robin Williams was known to millions as one of the great entertainers of his generation – an actor and comedian capable of switching effortlessly between manic energy and moments of remarkable sensitivity.
Away from the screen, he also developed a reputation as a thoughtful collector with an eclectic eye for everything from contemporary art and film memorabilia to fine watches.
Among the pieces from his collection to appear at auction over the years, this platinum Urban Jürgensen Reference 3 perpetual calendar is perhaps the most in keeping with Williams’ quieter, more reflective side.
Formerly sold by his estate in 2018, this Reference 3 stands apart through its craftsmanship of the highest order.
Its hand-guilloché dial, executed by the legendary Derek Pratt, reportedly required up to two full days of work and some 700 separate operations to complete.
The watch’s balanced display conceals considerable technical sophistication too.
Designed and patented by Pratt, the discreet power-reserve indication positioned beneath the moon-phase display needed two years of development, all without increasing the dimensions of the 38mm case from the preceding Reference 2.
Notable as one of fewer than a dozen believed to have been cased in platinum, this Urban Jürgensen Reference 3 combines complexity and depth befitting one of Williams’ more measured performances.
Rolex Ref. 9630 King Midas “Elvis Sister Watch”
There aren't many watches that capture the extravagance and spectacle of 1970s entertainment culture quite like the Rolex King Midas.
Conceived by Gérald Genta before his celebrated work on the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, the asymmetrical reference was inspired by Greek mythology and ancient Greek architecture. It was hewn from a solid block of 18k yellow gold and was one of the heaviest and most expensive Rolex watches of its era.
In popular culture, the King Midas is synonymous with “The King” himself, Elvis Presley.
In 1970, following six consecutive sold-out performances at the Houston Astrodome Livestock Show & Rodeo that drew close to 200,000 spectators, Elvis was presented with King Midas no. 343 by the officers of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLS&R). The watch remains on display today at Graceland.
The reference 9630 offered here carries a direct and well-documented link to that moment in entertainment history.
Presented in 1972 to M.C. “Buddy” Bray, then president of the HLS&R and the man responsible for negotiating Elvis’ historic Houston engagement, the watch can legitimately be considered the “sister piece” to Presley’s own King Midas.
This timepiece is also accompanied by original photographs documenting both Elvis receiving his King Midas and Buddy Bray receiving the present example alongside a Rolex Ref. 1400 “Cocktail” gifted to his wife, Elsie “Bo” Bray. The latter, in 14k yellow gold with halo bezel, also features in the auction.
Retained by the Bray family ever since, both watches offer a rare, concrete link back to the scale and spectacle surrounding Elvis’ fabled Houston shows.
Rolex Ref. 1019 Milgauss From the Collection of Isaac Slade
Best known as the former lead singer and songwriter of The Fray, Isaac Slade developed a personal connection with his Rolex Ref. 1019 Milgauss, one anchored in symbolism rather than mere celebrity association.
Introduced in 1960, the Rolex Milgauss Ref. 1019 was created for scientists and engineers working in highly magnetic environments. While retaining the anti-magnetic inner Faraday cage of earlier Milgauss models, the Ref. 1019 adopted a cleaner, more contemporary design than its predecessors.
The Milgauss offered here is especially notable for its rare non-luminous “CERN” dial, developed for use at CERN, the Geneva-based nuclear research organization.
Created without tritium to avoid interfering with sensitive scientific equipment, the dial has become one of the most sought-after Milgauss configurations among collectors.
As Slade explained in an exclusive interview with Phillips, the appeal of the Milgauss extended beyond its technical qualities. “At its core, the Milgauss is all about shielding,” he noted, describing the watch as a “metaphysical shield” during a period of intense public visibility and personal transition.
That sensibility also informed his choice of the sober CERN dial itself. “I wanted something that was really special, but that flew under the radar,” the Colorado native explained. “I sort of had a flashy job, so I wanted to offset that by a chill watch.”
Consigned directly by Slade, the watch retains its original punched guarantee and presentation box.
Universal Genève Ref. 22522 Film-Compax Previously Owned by Jean Hersholt
While Jean Hersholt may no longer be a household name, the Danish-American actor and director was a prominent figure in classic Hollywood.
Active during the transition from silent films to “talkies,” Hersholt appeared in more than 150 productions and later served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, still presented today, was established in his honor following his death in 1956.
The watch linked to him at The New York Watch Auction: XIV is every bit as distinctive as its original owner’s career.
At first glance, the 37mm Universal Genève Film-Compax resembles a beautifully proportioned mid-century chronograph.
But look closer and the dial reveals one of the most unusual scales found on any wristwatch of the period: a filmometer calibrated specifically for measuring 35mm and 16mm film stock during motion-picture production.
The outer black scale tracks the footage consumed when shooting standard 35mm film, while the inner red scale performs the same function for 16mm film.
According to Phillips’ research, only eight examples are currently known, and it is believed to be the only watch created specifically for filmographers.
Fresh to the market and consigned directly by Hersholt’s grandson, the Film-Compax may be the ultimate crossover between coneam and watchmaking.
And few pieces in this auction connect previous owner and profession quite so perfectly.
You can learn more about these timepieces, place a bid, and view the entire Phillips New York Watch Auction: XIV catalogue 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 DECADE ONE (2015–2025) sale having realized $83 million in 2025. The annual total for watch auctions in 2025 exceeded $290 million, marking the first time any auction house's Watches department has surpassed US$200 million in annual sales for five consecutive years.
About Steven Rogers
Steven Rogers is Senior Editorial Manager at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, with 15 years’ experience in the Swiss watch industry as an editor, copywriter, and communications manager across brands, agencies, and media.