LONDON – 11 June 2018 – Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is pleased to announce the appointment of James Marks as International Specialist. Based in London, Mr. Marks will assume responsibility for leading the Watch Department’s international sourcing efforts from the UK. He joins ahead of the upcoming international exhibition, Watchmakers, The Masters of Art Horology; a partnership between Maxima Gallery and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo. Having already travelled to Rome, New York and Hong Kong, the exhibition will finish at Phillips Berkeley Square from 18 to 26 June.
A respected member of the watch community for many years, Mr. Marks has developed a love and broad knowledge of horology across all areas of watches and wristwatches, focusing mostly on vintage Rolex and Patek Philippe wristwatches. He joins Phillips following a 17-year career in finance, where he was most recently a portfolio manager for a commodity hedge fund for seven years. Prior to this, Mr. Marks worked at Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas. For years, he has studied watches, engaging with high-profile collectors and developing a very broad understanding of the current market.
Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant, said, “Coming to Phillips with an outstanding reputation in our community and a solid network within the collectors’ community, we are delighted to welcome James to our team of passionate specialists. James brings with him considerable knowledge and, like so many of us, he has now decided to turn his passion for watches into a full-time career. We look forward to working with James in the lead up to the Watchmakers, The Masters of Art Horology exhibition in London, and of course next season’s sales in October in New York, and November in Geneva and Hong Kong. We look forward to many exciting developments in the UK under James’s leadership, including exhibitions, valuation days, and developing our ever-growing client base.”
In his role as International Specialist, Mr. Marks will be responsible for engaging with current clients and further cultivating networks with collectors in that market. He will have the opportunity to redefine the strategy for the Watch Department in the UK, developing a long-term sourcing strategy for all selling centres, and assisting all auctions around the world. Phillips Berkeley Square is proud to host the upcoming exhibition, Watchmakers, The Masters of Art Horology, that will gather the works of the most celebrated independent watchmakers in the world. Twelve artisans, each a legend in the realm of Haute Horlogerie, tell their stories, describing the traditional working methods and prized watches upon which their reputations have been built. Also displayed is the – Anniversary – the last piece made by the late George Daniels, who many consider to be the father of modern independent watchmaking, and who has directly influenced the work of so many of the watchmakers included in this show.
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 Patek Philippe reference 2523 (HK$22,300,000 /US$2,856,630) – Hong Kong Watch Auction: FIVE – 28 November 2017 – Highest result ever achieved for any wristwatch sold at auction in Asia.
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.
Visit www.phillips.com for further information.
PRESS CONTACTS:
LONDON - Katie Carder, Head of Press, Europe kcarder@phillips.com +44 20 7901 7938
GENEVA - Asta Ponzo, PR Consultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 799618566