Phillips
in Association with Bacs & Russo Announces:
The
Geneva Watch Auction: NINE
Led
by
The
George Daniels Grand Complication Pocket Watch
The Master’s Most
Ambitious & Complicated Watch
To Be Presented at
Auction on 11 May 2019
GENEVA – 19 March 2019 – There
are timepieces whose historical importance and relevance cannot be underlined
enough, their mere existence being a demonstration of the horological genius of
their maker. The George
Daniels Grand Complication is definitely one of these incredible
watches. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is honoured to present
at auction this exceptional timepiece. Fully hand-made by the Master, this
pocket watch is one of the world’s most sought-after masterpieces, the absolute
pinnacle of Daniels’ oeuvre and a grail for the seasoned watch collector.
This masterpiece, is the
star-lot that will be sold during The
Geneva Watch Auction: NINE, a double-evening sale to take place at La
Réserve - Geneva on May 11 & 12, 2019.
A mechanical tour de force,
the Grand Complication stands apart in the Daniels production. Fully hand made
by Daniels, it is the only timepiece he made to feature an instantaneous
perpetual calendar with retrograde date and minute repeater, both mechanisms to
Daniels’ own design. The sublime layout of the engine-turned dial, and the
finesse of the gold case and gilt movement show the artistry of the maker,
combining the majority of the complications incorporated in his earlier
watches; moonphase, differential screw mechanism for the power reserve,
bimetallic centigrade thermometer, Daniels keyless pendant and bow, Co-axial
1-minute tourbillon, and annual calendar with kidney cam and equation of time
indication.
The Grand Complication was
retained by Daniels for his personal use and was never sold during his
lifetime, further underscoring the special significance of this watch. That
this watch also incorporates the Daniels Co-axial escapement further elevates
this timepiece to an even greater level of historical importance.
The co-axial escapement,
invented by Daniels in 1975, is considered as one of the greatest innovations
in horology of the past 250 years. It is a modification of the lever escapement
with some features of the detent escapement avoiding the sliding friction of
the lever escapement, making lubrication of the pallets theoretically
unnecessary and thereby minimizing one of the shortcomings of the traditional
lever escapement.
Unanimously proclaimed as
the founding father of independent horology, George Daniels remains a true
source of inspiration across the years and over entire generations of talented
watchmakers.
Aurel
Bacs,
Senior Consultant of Bacs & Russo
and Alex Ghotbi, Head of Sales in Geneva jointly declared: “We are
incredibly humbled to have been trusted with this once in a lifetime
consignment and many savvy collectors will welcome it as such. Anyone, even
remotely, interested in independent watchmaking will agree that George Daniels
was probably the most talented watchmaker of the 20th century and
that he represents the “Adam and Eve” moment for what we describe today as
independent watchmaking. Given the sheer complexity, number of complications
and unparalleled degree of craftsmanship, it is fair to say that the Grand
Complication represents the pinnacle of Daniels’ work, who is himself the
pinnacle of 20th century watchmaking.
In short, the Grand Complication is the best by the best.”
Other
highlights included in Geneva Watch Auction: NINE will be shortly presented.
Please click
here for images of the George Daniels Grand Complication pocket watch
Permission
for the use of any image is granted for timely reporting and auction review
purposes only. Image courtesy of Phillips / Phillips.com
WORLD
TOUR: Spring 2019
Taipei: March
28
Taipei Office
12F., Unit B
No.89, Songren Road, Xinyi District
Taipei City 110
Hong-Kong:
March 30 to April 2
HK Office,
14/F,
St. George’s Building
2 Ice House Street
Central Hong Kong
Los Angeles: April 8 & 9
7017 Melrose Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90038
New-York:
April 12 to 15
Phillips Office
50 Park Avenue
New York NY 10022
London:
April 25 to 28
Phillips HQ Office
30 Berkeley Square
London W1J 6EX
Geneva:
May 9 to 12
Hôtel La Réserve
Bellevue
Geneva
Auction
Calendar
The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE part 1, Saturday 11 May | 5pm
The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE part 2, Sunday 12 May | 5pm
Location
: Hôtel La
Réserve, Bellevue, Geneva
###
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
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