Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Announces
Phillips & Blackbird: RETROSPECTIVE
27 July 2020 – Following on from the success of the ground-breaking auction, Phillips & Blackbird: SPORTS, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is delighted to announce a new collaboration with Blackbird, Phillips & Blackbird: RETROSPECTIVE, featuring significant watches from the first twenty years of the 21st century. A truly international effort that will see the strength of the Phillips teams in Hong Kong, Geneva, London and New York utilised to their full extent, the sale will offer a look into the future of the auction format, blending the best of the digital and live sale experiences, while integrating first-in-class storytelling to document this important period in watchmaking.
Representing the first time an auction was curated in partnership with an Asian collector, Phillips & Blackbird: SPORTS employed the keen eye for design, cultural importance and absolute quality of Mr. TK Mak, Founder and Chairman of Blackbird Automotive Group, resulting in a 100% sold “White Glove Sale”, totalling HK$73 million (US$ 9.3 million). Taking place in late 2020, Phillips & Blackbird: RETROSPECTIVE will utilise the experienced editorial team at Blackbird to present an informative review of significant watches that have defined the industry over the past two decades, combined with interviews and profiles of the personalities who have shaped the horological landscape during a time that saw great innovation and progress.
Thomas Perazzi, Head of Phillips Watches, Asia together with the International Directors of the Watch Department and the Senior Consultants, jointly said: “Following a highly successful season during these unprecedented times, we are pleased to be partnering with Blackbird to reflect on the horological landscape since the dawn of the new millennium. We look forward presenting a wide selection of significant watches from the past twenty years and use this sale to reflect on how to elevate the auction experience from the strong foundation that we have established.”
Mr. TK Mak, Founder and Chairman of Blackbird Automotive Group, and member of the Phillips Watches advisory board, said, “It is an honour and a privilege to be partnering with the exceptional team at Phillips once again for RETROSPECTIVE, as the sequel to our enjoyable and successful SPORTS sale last year. A transformative period for the watch industry, as well as the fashion and cultural landscapes that shape horology by proximity, the past twenty years offer a rich resource of personalities, events and technologies to shape our narrative. With the current situation unfolding before us, we have the chance to reconsider how we share and offer these mechanical objects and, having recently completed widely praised communications projects for our other business verticals, we look forward to sharing our unique expertise in these fields.”
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo has been global market leader in watch auctions for three consecutive years, with multiple world records achieved. Launched in 2014 by Aurel Bacs and his partner, Livia Russo, the department was established in response to the ever-increasing need for today's collectors to easily access scholarship, guidance and quality across the board. With salerooms located in Geneva, Hong Kong and New York, Phillips’ global team of experts aims to lead the market and the ever-increasing demand for the highest quality timepieces.
Mr. TK Mak founded his publishing company in 1998, before establishing Blackbird Automotive Group in 2013. In 2017, Blackbird Concessionaires was appointed the exclusive dealer for Ferrari sales and after-sales in Hong Kong and Macau, and in 2018 a new media division, Blackbird Watch Manual was launched to cover the world of horology. In 2019 the fruition of a five-year project between Mr. Mak and Ferrari was revealed to the public as P80/C, a one-off Sports Prototype concept car that was met with international critical praise, winning numerous international awards including an iF Design Award. With a history in luxury sectors and brand consultation through his personal relationships with the most significant designers, connoisseurs and businesspeople of our time, Mr. Mak has earned a reputation for his discerning taste and ability to define trends, which extends to his position as one of the region’s top collectors encompassing vintage watches, contemporary art, important design objects, historic racing cars and memorabilia.
Taking place in late 2020, the exact sale date and location of Phillips & Blackbird: RETROSPECTIVE will be announced in due course.
ABOUT BLACKBIRD AUTOMOTIVE GROUP AND BLACKBIRD WATCH MANUAL
Visit www.blackbird-automotive.com and www.blackbird-watchmanual.com for further information.
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 $111 million in 2019.
A selection of our recent record-breaking prices:
- 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 vintage wristwatch at auction.
- 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 vintage 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. Visit www.phillips.com for further information.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Phillips
GENEVA - Asta Ponzo, PR Consultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 79961 8566
HONG KONG – Ingrid Hsu, Public Relations Director, Asia ingridhsu@phillips.com +852 2318 2043
Blackbird
Nicholas Biebuyck Director of Business Development nicholas.biebuyck@blackbird-watchmanual.com +852 2881 6050