Phillips, the Worldwide Market
Leader in Watch Auctions, Achieves:
CHF 25.8 Million in The Geneva
Watch Auction: NINE
The Highest Sale Result of the
Geneva May Watch Auctions, with
The George Daniels Grand
Complication Achieving CHF 2’420’000 - the Highest Result of the Geneva Spring
Auction Season
Multiple World Records Also
Achieved for Rolex, including
‘Big Crown’ Submariner ref. 6200,
‘Small Crown’ Submariner ref.
5508,
‘Padellone’ Reference 8171 in
Yellow Gold,
And the Highest Price Achieved
for a Vintage Vacheron Constantin Wristwatch
Sold at Auction
George Daniels’ Anniversary
Wristwatch Sets A World Record for the Model
Geneva Watch Auction: NINE
Lots sold: 212 | Lots
offered: 216 Sold by lot: 98% | Sold by value: 99%
GENEVA – 15 May 2019 – Phillips
in Association with Bacs & Russo achieved a market leading sale result this
weekend, as The Geneva Watch Auction:
NINE realised CHF 25,800,625 /$25,496,177 /€22,701,969 and exceeded its pre-sale
estimate of CHF 13.8 to 25.3 million. This result marks the most successful watch
auction this spring.
Held over two days, The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE surpassed its
pre-sale high estimate, with many of the 216 lots flying well above their high
estimates, including several record-breaking watches. With clients joining the auction from 73
countries around the world, Phillips saw record participation for any watch
auction in company history. Almost 1,000 online bidders registered online, and almost 900 watch enthusiasts gathered in the
saleroom over the two days.
Following a successful and well attended pre-sale exhibition, panel
discussion and private gatherings with the world’s greatest names in
watchmaking, Phillips sold 100%
of the lots proposed in the section of the sale that was dedicated to
independent watchmakers. This achievement demonstrates the worldwide appeal and
appreciation for independent watchmaking.
The star lot of the weekend was a
magnificent and historically important pocket watch by George Daniels (lot 34), considered by many as the father of
independent watchmaking, eventually selling for an impressive CHF 2’420’000 /$2,391,444
/€2,129,358, the highest result achieved by any watch sold at auction this weekend.
The George Daniels Anniversary wristwatch (lot 32) realized CHF 456,250 /$450,866
/€401,454, setting a world record
for the model.
Dominating the top
ten, three world records were
achieved for Rolex watches, including an unprecedented result for a Submariner reference
5508 ‘Small Crown’ (lot 213) that was fresh-to-the-market, realising CHF 500,000
/$494,100 /€439,950, more than doubling its pre-sale high estimate and
establishing a new world record for any
‘Small Crown’ Submariner. This timepiece’s elder sister model, a fresh-to-the-market
Rolex reference 6200 “Big Crown” (lot 220) hailing from the original owner’s
family and making its auction debut fetched CHF 596,000 /$588,967 /€524,420.
The superbly preserved Rolex reference 8171 ‘Padellone’ (lot 68) realised CHF
980,000 /$968,436 /€862,302, setting a new
world record for the reference in yellow gold.
Other remarkable
results were achieved for Patek Philippe,
including a very rare platinum reference 5208P (lot 126) produced in extremely
small numbers since 2011 that sold for CHF 812,000 /$ 802,418 /€714,479, and a
reference 1436 split-seconds chronograph in pink gold (lot 167) that realised
CHF 536,000 /$529,675 /€471,626, proving the strong market demand for both
contemporary and vintage timepieces from the Manufacturer.
The “Don Pancho” – a
spectacular and unique Vacheron Constantin minute repeater with day and
retrograde date delivered in 1940 achieved CHF 740,000 / $731,269 / €651,126 a
new world record for any vintage Vacheron Constantin wristwatch sold at
auction.
Watches with
celebrity provenance included the historically important Rolex reference 16528
stamped 16500 (lot 23) offered by Formula 1 Legend Ayrton Senna as a gift to his mentor, manager and friend Angelo
Parrilla, realising CHF 162,500 /$160,582 /€142,983. A fabulous
jewel-wristwatch by Patek Philippe reference 4321-2 from award-winning actress Catherine Deneuve’s collection (lot
201) realised CHF35,000 /$34,587 /€30,796.
The probably
unique Eberhard Longines A7
reference 3592 retailed by
Eberhard Milano (lot 209), an unusual and very
well-preserved chronograph Pilot’s wristwatch in stainless steel, fetched CHF
250,000 /$247,050 /€219,975, whilst a Zenith
El Primero ref. A382 (lot 172) achieved CHF 40,000 / $39,528 / €35,196 –
both setting world record prices for these models.
There were lengthy
bidding wars between watch collectors in the room, fighting for timepieces by MB&F, Breitling, Zenith, F.-P. Journe, Voutilainen and Habring 2.
Online bidding was
particularly strong over the weekend, with almost 1,000 bidders joining the digital
saleroom – a new record for a Phillips auction, following successive years of
growth of the market. Online bidders were extremely active, placing bids on 84%
of the watches offered, with winning bids placed on multiple watches that sold
for more than CHF 500,000 online.
Alex Ghotbi, Head of Sale and Aurel Bacs, Consultant and Auctioneer of
the auction, jointly said: «We are
delighted to observe that yet again, Phillips confirmed its market leadership
thanks to the trust that enthusiasts and collectors place in the team. This
season’s results confirm, to our absolute pleasure, the strong demand for
well-established names such as Rolex and Patek Philippe but also for brands where
growing interest has been shown, attesting to an impressive breakthrough in
independent watchmaking. The quality and variety of the timepieces offered are,
more than ever, of utmost importance, and we seize the occasion here to thank
all of our clients, consignors and bidders for their ongoing trust and support.
The sale was carefully curated and
well-balanced, offering clients a wide choice of brands, styles, periods and
prices. Impressively, the top ten lots all surpassed the CHF 500,000 mark, and we
recorded an average lot value of over CHF 120,000, showing that the selection offered
appealed to the market’s desires. We very much look forward to welcoming the
community to our upcoming Hong Kong auctions: Phillips & Blackbird: SPORTS followed by The Hong Kong Watch
Auction: EIGHT.”
TOP TEN FROM THE GENEVA WATCH AUCTION: NINE
|
Lot |
Description |
Estimate |
Price Achieved |
|
34 |
GEORGE DANIELS, Grand Complication pocket watch A unique, spectacular and historically important
yellow gold instantaneous perpetual calendar minute repeating openface watch
with moonphases, thermometer, power reserve, equation of time, annual
calendar and one minute co-axial tourbillon |
In
excess of CHF 1.5 million |
CHF 2,420,000 $ 2,391,444 € 2,129,358 |
|
68 |
ROLEX, reference 8171 A large, attractive and exceptionally well-preserved
triple calendar wristwatch with moonphases and two-tone dial, original box
and numbered hang tag. WORLD
RECORD FOR A REFERENCE 8171 IN YELLOW GOLD |
CHF 400,000 to 800,000 |
CHF 980,000 $ 968,436 € 862,302 |
|
126 |
PATEK PHILIPPE, reference 5208P A very rare
and highly important platinum minute repeating single-button chronograph
wristwatch with instantaneous perpetual calendar, moonphases, certificate and
boxes |
CHF 550,000 to 950,000 |
CHF 812,000 $ 802,418 € 714,479 |
|
50 |
ROLEX, reference
6241 “John Player Special” A fine, rare and
extremely attractive 14K yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with
Paul Newman “John Player Special” dial |
CHF 350,000 to
700,000 |
CHF 800,000 $ 790,560 € 703,920 |
|
109 |
VACHERON CONSTANTIN, “Don Pancho” A spectacular, unique and historically important
yellow gold minute repeater wristwatch with day, retrograde date and original
unrestored extra dial WORLD
RECORD FOR A VINTAGE VACHERON CONSTANTIN WRISTWATCH |
CHF 400,000 to
800,000 |
CHF 740,000 $ 731,268 € 651,126 |
|
153 |
ROLEX, reference 6263 case back stamped 6239 to the
inside A very fine, extremely rare and highly important
stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with “Oyster Sotto” Paul Newman dial |
CHF 400,000 to
800,000 |
CHF 704,000 $ 695,693 €619,450 |
|
220 |
ROLEX, reference 6200 “Big Crown” An extremely rare, important and early stainless
steel diver's wristwatch with black glossy "Explorer" dial WORLD
RECORD FOR A REFERENCE 6200 |
CHF 300,000 to
600,000 |
CHF 596,000 $ 588,967 € 524,420 |
|
71 |
ROLEX, reference 6062 An exceptionally fine, rare and important yellow
gold triple calendar wristwatch with star-set numerals and moonphases |
CHF 400,000 to
800,000 |
CHF 548,000 $ 541,533 €482,185 |
|
167 |
PATEK PHILIPPE, reference 1436 An extremely fine and rare pink gold split seconds
chronograph wristwatch with pink dial |
CHF 300,000 to
500,000 |
CHF 536,000 $ 529,675 €471,426 |
|
213 |
ROLEX, reference 5508 An early and attractive diver's wristwatch with
bracelet, box, wax tag and anchor WORLD
RECORD FOR A ‘SMALL CROWN’ SUBMARINER |
CHF 80,000 to
160,000 |
CHF 500,000 $ 494,100 € 439,950 |
IMAGES OF THE TOP TEN: click here
The next watch auctions will be
Phillips and Blackbird: SPORTS on 27 May in Hong Kong, followed by the Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT on 28 May, 2019.
# # #
Permission for
the use of any image is granted for timely reporting and auction review
purposes only. Image courtesy of Phillips / Phillips.com
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, achieving a sale total of $ 108 million in 2018 – its third
consecutive year as the worldwide market leader in watch auctions.
A
selection of our recent record-breaking prices:
1.
Paul Newman’s Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona reference 6239 (CHF
17,709,894/US$17,752,500) – New York Auction: Winning Icons – 26 October 2017 –
Highest result ever achieved for any wristwatch at auction.
2.
Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel (CHF 11,020,000
/US$11,112,020) – Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR – 12 November 2016 – Highest
result ever achieved for a Patek Philippe wristwatch at auction.
ABOUT PHILLIPS
Phillips is a leading
global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design.
With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art,
Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers
professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions
are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients
are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the
United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform
accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying
opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers
assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved
include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
PRESS CONTACTS:
GENEVA - Asta Ponzo, PR Consultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 79 961 85 66
LONDON - Katie Carder, Head of Press, Europe kcarder@phillips.com +44 20 7901
7938
NEW YORK - Jaime Israni, Senior Public Relations Specialist jisrani@phillips.com +1 212
940 1398
HEADQUARTERS: LONDON - 30 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EX | NEW YORK - 450 Park Avenue, New York, NY
10022
VISIT
US AT:
www.phillips.com
FOLLOW
US ON: Twitter | Instagram | Vimeo | Facebook | Pinterest | LinkedIn