Phillips Announces Highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX Featuring The Guido Mondani Collection

Patek Philippe

Lot 55 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref 2523/1, circa 1960

Estimate CHF 1.2 – 2.4 million

The two-crown Patek Philippe world-time is potentially the very first model to reach the “ultimate grail” status among collectors, achieving it as soon as 1989, when an example was chosen as the cover lot of the "Art of Patek Philippe" auction. Since then, its popularity has steadily increased - a trend that seems nowhere close to ending. The present example is without a doubt one of the most appealing and collectible Patek Philippe two-crown world-time wristwatches to ever come to market, thanks to its unpolished case and pristine dial.

Lot 143 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref 3448 White Gold “Padellone”, 1972

Estimate CHF 400,000 – 800,000

We are pleased to offer a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref. 3448 in white gold merging incredible rarity with a most impressive overall condition with inverted date ring.

Lot 145 | PATEK PHILIPPE,Ref 1518 Yellow Gold, 1951

Estimate CHF 400,000 – 800,000

Additional Patek Philippe highlights in the auction include a 1951 Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 1518 in 18k yellow gold, a 2015 Patek Philippe Chronograph ref. 5070 in 18k white gold with salmon dial from the 2015 Watch Art Grand Exhibition at London's Saatchi Gallery of which only five are known (estimate CHF 250,000-500,000), and a freshly unsealed Patek Philippe Split-Seconds Chronograph ref. 5950A (estimate CHF 220,000-440,000).

Rolex

Lot 216 | ROLEX, Reference 6241 “John Player Special”, circa 1969

Estimate CHF 500,000 – 1 million

One of the Rolex highlights is a fresh to the market and from family of original owner Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6241 in yellow gold so-called “John Player Special”. It is notably one of the few known “John Player Specials” cased in 14K yellow gold, indicating it was most probably made for the American market. It is also distinguished by its exceptional state of preservation. The freshness and rarity of the present Ref. 6241 renders it one of the most exciting, astonishing and beautiful examples to come to the auction market in recent years.

Lot 219 | ROLEX,  Ref 6102 “La Caravelle”, circa 1953

Estimate CHF 400,000 – 800,000

Cloisonné dials aren’t typically associated with Rolex, but ref. 6102 is an exceptional anomaly. The spectacular cloisonné enamel dial depicts a Caravel - a small, fast sailing ship of Spanish or Portuguese origin from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The dial was made by one of Geneva’s most acclaimed enamellers, Margueritte Koch, who worked with the Stern Frères company. The watch is furthermore preserved in exceptional condition.

A. Lange & Söhne

Lot 29 | A. LANGE & SÖHNE, Ref 101.026X Lange 1 Stainless Steel “Only One Known”, 1999

Estimate CHF 150,000 – 300,000

It is always an exhilarating moment when discovering a timepiece that rewrites scholarship; the present Lange 1 in steel with blue dial is one such watch, making it the only example known in this configuration. The Lange 1 in stainless steel was never offered in a catalogue and the German brand has never confirmed the exact number produced. Experts estimate that approximately 30 were made in total, of which some have appeared sporadically on the international auction market. Research shows that some were made in 1994 upon the official re-launch of the A. Lange & Söhne, and also produced during the period from 1996-1999 with most examples either delivered to the German, Italian, or American market with either silver or black dials. The watch is consigned by the original owner who bought it in 1999 from German retailer Oeding-Erdel.

Lot 200 | A. LANGE & SÖHNE, Ref 701.301 Tourbillon Pour le Merite, 1994

Estimate CHF 120,000 – 240,000

While the Lange 1 is arguably the most distinctive timepiece by A. Lange & Söhne, the Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, named after one of Germany’s highest orders of merit, is a true tour de force of mechanical watchmaking. Taking the tourbillon to new heights, the Pour le Mérite was the first wristwatch to feature the fusée-and-chain transmission, a refined constant-force mechanism that was developed with Renaud & Papi. The original Pour le Mérite was made in a production run of only 200 pieces, with 106 of that total in 18k yellow gold, such as the present example. This example is also paired with an original 18k yellow gold Wellendorff bracelet, which is confirmed to have been delivered with the watch in 1994.

Independent Watchmaking

Lot 60 | F.P. JOURNE Resonance “Pre-Souoscription”, 2000

Estimate CHF 400,000 – 800,000

The earliest F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance examples can be divided into three categories: Souscription, Pre-Production, and Pre-Souscription. We are delighted to offer the last known pre-souscription Chronomètre à Resonance bearing the shallow engravings and shiny dials typical of the earliest references.

Lot 81 | F.P. JOURNE, Tourbillon Souverain “Hong Kong Boutique”, circa 2010

Estimate CHF 200,000 – 400,000

Made in five pieces in celebration of the anniversary of F.P. Journe’s boutique in Hong Kong, the present Tourbillon Souverain in titanium features a graphic and theatrical colour combination of a slate grey dial with salmon script. This coulor combination can also be found on the titanium case, which is paired with a pink gold crown, hands, and deployant clasp. The present Hong Kong boutique anniversary edition Tourbillon Souverain is number 2 of a limited edition of only 5 pieces. Offered by its original owner, the present example is fresh to the auction market; proceeds from its sale will be donated by the consignor to UNICEF.

Lot 58 | REXHEP REXHEPI, Chronomère Contemporain, 2019

Estimate CHF 300,000 – 600,000

Rexhep Rexhepi is one of the most exciting independent watchmakers to emerge in the past few years, garnering an almost cult-like following. Thanks to the immense success of his 2018 Chronomètre Contemporain, he became a notable figure in the industry. The Chronomètre Contemporain was his first round watch as well as his first watch to feature his name, Rexhep Rexhepi, on the dial instead of that of his brand, Akrivia. The model was made in either 18k pink gold with black enamel dial, or in platinum with a white enamel dial, each version limited to just 25 pieces. After Phillips successfully sold two different examples of the pink gold series last year, we’re proud to offer the first platinum example of the Chronomètre Contemporain to come to auction.

Lot 188 | REXHEP REXHEPI, AK 05 “Tourbillon Barette Miroir”, circa 2015

Estimate CHF 300,000 – 600,000

Another timepiece from the ateliers of Rexhep Rexhepi is the present Akrivia AK-05 Tourbillon Barrette Miroir in titanium. While his earlier models featured the combination of a tourbillon with another complication, the AK-05 was all about the tourbillon, featuring an extra-large cage and a blued escapement wheel. The yellow gold dial of the present watch has been meticulously hand hammered. The movement is as attractive as the dial, perfectly symmetrical with gorgeous Geneva stripes, mirror polished elements, and interior angles, it is an ode to beauty and craftsmanship. This AK-05 is the very first model to grace an international auction market. Bearing number 3, it is one of the earliest examples made.