Including The Highest Result For Any wristwatch sold in 2018,
The “Unicorn” Rolex 6265 in white gold, sold for
CHF 5.9m
The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT Achieves CHF 21 million
The Highest Sale Result of the Geneva November Watch
Auctions
With the Highest Average Lot Value and The Highest
Sold Rate, 99%
in the most curated watch auction held in
Geneva this autumn
Setting Multiple New World Records Including:
The Highest Result Ever Achieved for any Rolex “Jean-Claude Killy” chronograph
Selling for Over CHF 700,000
The Highest Result Ever Achieved for any
Rolex Sea-Dweller
Selling for Over CHF 700,000
And Breaking The CHF 1 Million Mark For
A Fresh-To-Market Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 in Platinum,
to Many the Most Beautiful Patek Philippe
Wristwatch Manufactured in The Last 30 years
Record Participation of More than 1000 Bidders Across all Platforms in more
than 60 Countries
Geneva
Watch Auction: EIGHT
Lots sold: 214 | Lots offered: 222 Sold
by lot: 96% | Sold by value: 99%
GENEVA – 14 November 2018 – The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT realised a total of CHF 21,359,750/$21,250,815/€18,741,044 (pre-sale estimate: CHF 12 to 21 million), confirming Phillips’ market leadership in watch sales. The result is more than 50% what its nearest competitor achieved during the same weekend, and makes this the third most successful auction of the year, behind the Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN and The Daytona Ultimatum, all of which were organized by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo.
Held over two days, The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT surpassed its pre-sale high estimate with many of the 222 lots offered selling well above their high estimate, including multiple record-breaking watches and memorable bidding battles between passionate collectors.
Leading this weekend’s results was an incredibly rare platinum Patek Philippe reference 3974 (lot 78A), one of only eight publically known in platinum, which sold for a remarkable CHF 1,032,500/$1,027,234/€905,915.
There were strong results across all models for Rolex, including a new world record for a Rolex reference 6236, also known as the “Jean-Claude Killy”. Likely the best-preserved example to ever come to auction, the steel “Killy” (lot 42) realised CHF 702,500/$698,917/€616,373 breaking its own world record in the process.
Another remarkable highlight of the evening was the extremely rare and historically important Rolex Sea-Dweller reference 1665 “Single Red” prototype in stainless steel with no helium valve case, which sold for CHF 708,500/$704,886/€621,638 therefore setting a new world record for a Rolex Sea-Dweller.
Results were notably impressive across all of the early Rolex chronographs presented during the sale in a spectacular riposte to the Daytona Ultimatum auction held earlier this year.
Watches rarely seen at auction included the Omega Speedmaster Alaska I (lot 36) and the Audemars Piguet reference 1533 chronograph, which ignited fierce and lengthy bidding between passionate collectors. The Omega Alaska I sold for CHF 193,750/$192,716/€169,996, while the Audemars Piguet reference 1533 chronograph wristwatch (Lot 101) sold for CHF 384,500/$382,539/€337,360. Both surpassed all expectations by tripling their respective high estimates.
Independent watchmakers continue to be extremely
popular. Even before the auction began, Phillips received tremendous interest
for the watches included in two chapters dedicated to contemporary watchmakers.
Notable results include the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain (lot 14), which
sold for CHF 468,500/$466,110/€411,062, more than doubling its high estimate. The
Jean Daniel Nicolas Two Minute Tourbillon was another highlight, selling for CHF
110,000/$ 109,439/€ 96,514.
Finally, it is impossible not to mention the
tremendous results of recently made watches that are exceptionally difficult to
obtain on the high street, including the brand-new Rolex Daytona ‘Rainbow’ in
pink gold. The first example sold at auction since its reveal at Baselworld
2018 achieved CHF 243,750 /$242,507/€213,866.
Other notable results were achieved by modern Patek
Philippe Nautilus models, including a Tiffany-signed reference 5711/1A (lot
131) CHF125,000/$124,362/€109,675 and the only publically known platinum
reference 3800 (lot 105) with slate grey dial and white indexes, sold for CHF
212, 500/$211,416/€186,447
While Phillips had the immense pleasure of welcoming more than 400 enthusiasts who
travelled from all over the world to bid on some of the finest watches with
their paddles, online and phone bidders also made their presence felt
throughout the sale. Participation was
particularly strong online. The Geneva Watch
Auction: EIGHT saw a record number of online bids, with more than 700 bidders
actively participating online and winning almost a quarter of the lots
proposed.
Alex Ghotbi, Head of Sale and Aurel Bacs, Consultant and Auctioneer of the auction, jointly comment:
“Firstly, we wish to thank all our clients,
consignors and bidders alike, for their trust and for having travelled from far
to attend our Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT. It is an immense privilege to host
an auction in front of over 350 clients in the room and over 700 online
bidders, with hundreds more bidding via telephone. Secondly, we were thrilled
to see how passionately the market reacted to our well curated sale, resulting
in an unprecedented sold rate and the highest sale total of any watch auction
this season. The team of Phillips watch specialists clearly understood the
needs and expectations of the international watch collector’s community, an
ever-growing market displaying a great degree of maturity, scholarship and
passion. During the Geneva preview, highlights from the Hong Kong Watch
Auction: Seven and the New York auction ‘STYLED. Timeless Watches And How To
Wear Them’ were enthusiastically welcomed, intensely previewed and received
strong interest. We very much look forward to welcoming the community to these
two auctions”.
Phillips’s next watch auctions will be the Hong Kong Watch Auction: SEVEN on November 27, 2018 and Styled. Timeless
TOP TEN FROM
THE GENEVA WATCH AUCTION: EIGHT
|
Watches & How to Wear
Them on December 5, 2018 in New
York.
Click here for a selection
of high-res images.
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 $112 million in 2017 – its second
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.
3.
Rolex
“Bao Dai” reference 6062 (CHF5,066,000 /US$5,060,427) – Geneva Watch Auction:
FIVE – 13 May 2017
ABOUT PHILLIPS
HEADQUARTERS:
LONDON - 30 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EX | NEW YORK - 450 Park Avenue, New
York, NY
VISIT US AT: www.phillips.com
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.
Visit
www.phillips.com for further information.
*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
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