Including:
A Platinum Patek Philippe Reference 3974, Probably the
Most Important and Most Complicated Patek Philippe References Created in the
Past 30 Years
A Museum Quality Single-Pusher Patek Philippe
Chronograph Made in the 1920s
A Selection of
the Finest and Rarest Rolex Chronographs Pre-Dating the Launch of the
Beloved
Cosmograph Daytona
Including Possibly the Best-Preserved “Killy” Reference 6236 in Stainless Steel
A Historically
Important Rolex “Single Red” Sea-Dweller Prototypewith no Helium Valve
Highlights Tour will take Watches to Asia, North
America, Europe
GENEVA – 4 October 2018 –
Following a record-breaking Spring auction season, Phillips in Association with
Bacs & Russo, the global market leader in collectors’ watches, is delighted
to unveil highlights from The Geneva Watch
Auction: EIGHT. Featuring over 220 lots, the auction will consist of two Evening Sessions,
on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 5pm on November
10-11, 2018. The sale will take place at the Hotel la Reserve, in Geneva. It is free and open to the public.
As ever, collectors will discover an incredible
selection of vintage watches, including a collection of early Rolex
chronographs, from the early cushion-shaped examples made in the 1930s to the
beloved Oyster Cosmograph Daytonas of the 1960s, offering a very interesting
retrospective highlighting the company’s long and storied relationship with the
complication.
Leading this select group of chronographs is possibly the best-preserved
example of a Rolex “Jean-Claude Killy” reference
6236 Dato-Compax in stainless steel.
Phillips is also proud to present
a historically important Rolex “Single-Red” Sea-Dweller prototype without
helium valve, which features in John Goldberger’s latest book, A Journey into the Deep, written in
collaboration with Daniel Bourn.
Also on offer is a large selection of
military-issued watches from various makers, including watches made for pilots,
divers and decorated veterans from the Italian, American, Peruvian,
Argentinian, UAE, Pakistani, and Israeli armed forces.
Further highlights include three of the most in-demand contemporary watches of
2018. Making their auction debut are two watches launch at Basel 2018 - the new
Rolex “Rainbow” Daytona reference 116595
RBOW in pink gold and the new Rolex ‘Pepsi Bezel’ GMT reference 126710
BLRO in stainless steel. These will be offered alongside a newly made Patek Philippe reference 5711 in stainless
steel with Tiffany-signed dial.
In addition, Phillips is proud to present a full and
complete set of Omega’s original “Holy Trilogy” composed of first
generation “Broad Arrow” models including a Seamaster reference 2913-3, a Railmaster
reference 2914-1, a Speedmaster reference 2915-1 and a Speedmaster
reference 2915-2 – as well as a rare Ranchero
reference 2990, also known as the “Fourth Musketeer”. To our knowledge,
this is the first time these four pieces have been presented in a single
auction in such original condition. Complete set of Omega’s original “Holy Trilogy”.
Highlights from Patek Philippe, Audemars
Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and other high-end manufacturers will complete the
Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT catalogue, including a selection of watches from
the most coveted contemporary makers, such as Kari Voutilainen, Vianney Halter,
and F.P. Journe, who will
be represented in the sale by one of his original Tourbillon Souverain Souscription, a watch that helped launch the
watchmaker’s brand.
All highlights will be available to the
public during a lengthy world tour, with pre-sale exhibitions opening in Asia,
North America, and Europe. Following previews in Taipei and Hong Kong, highlights will be on display in New York between October 19-22, London between October 26-29, and
finally Geneva between November 8-11.
Phillips invites all watch collectors to come meet our
team and admire these exceptionally fine and rare timepieces ahead of The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT. We are confident our selection of watches will continue to
fuel the remarkable passion that clients have shown in watches in recent years,
and look forward to welcoming them to our previews later this month.
Highlights from THE GENEVA WATCH AUCTION: EIGHT
The Rolex Sea-Dweller is one of the world’s most
eminent dive watches. Launched in 1967, it was originally conceived for diving
expeditions. The example offered by Phillips is historically important as it is
one of the very earliest prototypes tested in a “real life” underwater
environment prior to official production launch. These prototypes were housed
in Submariner style cases with and without a Helium Escape Valve, and with a
new reference number engraved between the lugs and inside the case back: 1665.
As such, this model features an ultra-rare
“Sea-Dweller” signature in red (as opposed to production pieces that had a
double red signature on the dial and have a helium escape valve). It is
believed that Rolex offered this watch to Robert Bradley, a naval pilot and
marine biologist, in November 1968, to commemorate the 500th dive of the
Deepstar-4000, a deep-sea submersible. In fact, the caseback shows traces of an
engraving that has mostly rubbed off but where the name Bob and a date 11.08 remain
distinguishable. As these watches were prototypes and used for intense testing,
few have survived. Scholarship has found twelve existing “Single Red”
Sea-Dwellers, seven of which do not have a Helium Escape Valve.
Today there are a handful of Day-Dates so rare that their very existence bewilders the most seasoned collectors. Known only to the horological cognoscenti, they are the antithesis of the opulent Day-Dates we know so well today. While the reference 6611 in stainless steel is arguably the "holy grail" of all Day-Dates, this prototype in stainless steel comes a close second.
This timepiece most notably does not have a reference
or serial number, as it was never manufactured for commercial purposes. The
movement number, 0005073, is incredibly close to another known example
illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, which bears
the movement number 0004547 and is almost identical in appearance to the
present example. The other known example also does not bear any serial or
reference numbers.
The case back bears all the signs of an undoubtedly
correct Rolex factory component, such as the "Montres Rolex S.A. Geneva
Switzerland" stamping, as well as the crisp milled satin finishes in the
center. An important detail is the "STAINLESS STEEL" script,
indicating that Rolex did indeed create stainless steel Day-Date cases.
The split seconds reference 1436 remained for decades
the most complicated wristwatch made by the famed Geneva brand. Reference 1436
is the first split seconds chronograph wristwatch that Patek Philippe ever
produced in a series. Originally launched in 1938, the model was used as a
"tool watch" to time horse or automobile racing, along with
scientific experiments. The present watch is not only one of these
ultra-limited timepieces but it is only one of 16 known examples in yellow gold
to feature applied Breguet numerals and as confirmed in the Patek Philippe
Extract from the Archives. The dial with
Breguet numerals not only adds further collectability but adds amazing presence
and charisma to the dial.
Single-button chronographs are amongst the rarest gems within the family of complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches. One of the earliest Patek Philippe chronographs, the present watch is the earliest to have left the Patek Philippe ateliers. This timepiece is also part of an extremely low production run of 27 single-button chronographs of which 16 had an officer case like the present model. It is not only collectible because of its exceptional condition and ultimate rarity, but also and perhaps most importantly because of its historical relevance. A button at 2 o’clock enables the crown to be used for time setting. The large double-hinged officer case houses a chronograph movement based on a Victorin Piguet ébauche featuring a column-wheel cover, an element that has become a Patek Philippe signature ever since.
Patek Philippe’s reference 3974 is the epitome of the
famed brand’s technical and design prowess of the late 20th century.The
movement beating in the heart of this masterpiece is Patek Philippe’s caliber
27RQ, a 6.80mm thick movement comprised of 467 components. This ultra-complex
mechanism is housed in a case whose downturned stepped lugs are reminiscent of
another of Patek Philippe’s iconic timepieces: the perpetual calendar
chronograph reference 2499. Patek Philippe turned to Jean-Pierre Hagmann (whose
initials are proudly stamped inside the solid caseback and inner lug), a living
legend among case makers, to create a case that would not only be a beautiful
frame for the watch but could also act as a superb sound carrier for the
repeater’s delicate chimes.
Patek Philippe discontinued this reference in 2000, and given how complex it was to manufacture, very few examples were made over its 11-year production period. In fact, the present example is only the eighth known in platinum. Platinum is a metal known to dampen the sound of chimes in a repeating watch, however thanks to Patek Philippe’s technical expertise and Hagmann’s savoir faire, the chimes in the present timepiece are crystal clear, loud and extremely pleasant to the ear. The present watch comes complete with rotating winding box, setting pin and additional solid caseback.
###
WORLD TOUR: Fall 2018
Taipei: September 26 & 27
Taipei Office
12F., Unit B
No.89, Songren Road,
Xinyi District
Taipei City 110
Hong-Kong: September 29 to October 2
HK
Office, 14/F,
St.
George’s Building
2 Ice House Street
Central Hong Kong
New-York: October 19 to 22
Phillips Office
50 Park Avenue
New
York NY 10022
London: October 26 to 29
Phillips
HQ Office
30
Berkeley Square
London
W1J 6EX
Geneva: November 8 to 11
Hôtel La Réserve
Bellevue
Geneva
Auction Calendar
The
Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT part 1, Saturday 10 November | 5pm
The
Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT part 2, Sunday 11 November | 5pm
Location: Hôtel
La Réserve, Bellevue, Geneva
Click below 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.
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.
*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
HEADQUARTERS: LONDON - 30 Berkeley Square, London W1J
6EX | NEW YORK - 450 Park Avenue, New
York, NY
VISIT
US AT: www.phillips.com
FOLLOW US ON: Twitter | Instagram | Vimeo | Facebook | Pinterest | LinkedIn