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Phillips to Offer 10 Rare and Important Pocket Watches Hailing from a Prestigious Family Collection Across Auctions in Hong Kong and New York
Extraordinary Watches by Swiss, British, and French Makers Such as Patek Philippe, Charles Frodsham, Leroy, and S. Smith & Son, to Appear at Auction for the First Time in Decades
Including a Magnificent Charles Frodsham Grande Complication Clock Watch, One of the Most Complicated British Watches Ever Made and a Possibly Unique Patek Philippe Ref. 767 Minute-Repeating Perpetual Calendar Double-Split Chronograph
To be Sold Across The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII on 24-25 May and The New York Watch Auction: X on 8-9 June
HONG KONG/NEW YORK – 25 APRIL 2024 – Phillips is proud to announce the sale of 10 pocket watches from a prestigious private collection, to be offered across the Spring auctions in Hong Kong and New York. These stunning examples of Swiss and British pocket watches, many of which are being offered at auction for the first time, have been held in the same collection for decades. 5 examples will be included in The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII on 24-25 May and 5 examples will be featured in The New York Watch Auction: X on 8-9 June.
Thomas Perazzi and Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairmen and Head of Watches for Asia and Americas, respectively, said, “It is our distinct honor to present such a compelling and significant group of timepieces across our international sales this season. At Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, we pride ourselves on our commitment to offering the very best the market has to offer, and these timepieces are no exception. The collection of pocket watches from this discerning family collection epitomizes the pinnacle of craftsmanship and innovation in horology. These pocket watches showcase the artistry and ingenuity of watchmaking masters who pushed the boundaries of mechanical complexity. The collector who acquired these watches did so with a discerning eye, always choosing the very best, and we are delighted to showcase them now in a setting befitting their importance.”
PATEK PHILIPPE, ref 767 A possibly unique yellow gold minute repeating perpetual calendar double-split chronograph open-faced keyless pocket watch, circa 1952 Estimate: HK$3,200,000 - 6,400,000/ US$ 410,000-820,000 To be offered in The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII
Patek Philippe’s first ever horological complication pocket watch with three complications was made in the late 19th century. From the post-war period, the maison refreshed the line of Triple Complication into modern age with the launch of the ref. 767 in 1951. Adding to the present example’s allure, it is the only known example to feature a double-split chronograph mechanism, a total of five hands mounted on the central pinion: Hour, Minutes, Chronograph, and Double-split hands.
Stunningly preserved in all its glory, the 1518-esque engraved enamel dial is exquisite and impeccable with matching movement number engraved on the underside, the case is also made by legendary case maker Emile Vichet.
The pocket watch was also prominently illustrated in the important Patek Philippe Geneve book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery. According to our research, we believe that this very example was part of the Seth G. Atwood’s private collection. He founded the Time Museum Rockford in the United States in 1971, which later became one of the leading horological museums in the world with nearly 1,500 pieces of important horological pieces. Possibly unique and kept in an astute private collection whom acquired this ref.767 for decades, this is a testament of Patek Philippe prowess by breaking records, devising, and constructing exceptional pieces that required years of interdisciplinary research into the fields of astronomy, mathematics and precision mechanics.
PATEK PHILIPPE, minute repeating perpetual calendar chronograph pocket watch in pink gold, circa 1883 Estimate: HK$320,000 - 640,000/ US$41,000-82,000 To be offered in The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII The present half hunter case pocket watch in pink gold exemplifies the master craftsmanship associated with Patek Philippe’s mechanical innovation and artistry. It was specially made for Bailey, Banks & Biddle and is a testament to the esteemed American jewellery retailer. Its dial showcases an elegant layout with the moon phase positioned at 12 o'clock and the date highlighted in red, accompanied by subsidiary seconds at six o'clock. The half hunter watch boasts a slide on the bottom of the case, which, when activated, allows the watch to chime the hours, quarters, and minutes audibly. The chimes are magnificent, resonant, and clear, enabling the wearer to accurately tell the time during daylight and the darkest nights.
CHARLES FRODSHAM, minute repeating split-seconds chronograph open-faced pocket watch in yellow gold with one-minute tourbillon, circa 1901 Estimate: HK$ 480,000 - 960,000/ US$61,000-123,000 To be offered in The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII
Charles Frodsham is a highly esteemed English watchmaking firm since the latter half of the 19th century. In 1854, Charles Frodsham succeeded Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy as the Superintendent and Keeper of Her Majesty's Clocks at Buckingham Palace. The present lot represents an exceptional example of the iconic Charles Frodsham tourbillon pocket watch. Bearing the serial number No. 08'867, currently, only 12 of these watches have re-emerged in the market, while the rest are either held in private collections or remain in the possession of descendants of the original owners. This remarkable timepiece incorporates a minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph, and a one-minute tourbillon, which the monumental movement of this watch is also featured on the official Charles Frodsham website.
In 1902, the present watch underwent a time trial at the Kew Observatory (now known as The King's Observatory) in Richmond, Surrey. It was subjected to different temperatures and positions and achieved the highest A certificate with 78.4 marks, ranking 8th out of 13 watches in the "Complicated watches" category. Notably, it has been sitting in the same collection for nearly 3 decades by a very prominent family.
LEROY, minute repeating perpetual calendar chronograph open-faced pocket watch in yellow gold, circa 1930 Estimate: HK$160,000 - 320,000/ US$20,000-40,000 To be offered in The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII
In 1900, Louis Leroy created the Leroy 01, the most complicated watch ever made with an astounding 24 complications on two dials, other than the chiming complications, the Leroy 01 also indicated time in 125 cities, seasons, the winter and summer solstice, spring and autumn equinox, a perpetual calendar, a hygrometer, a barometer, and even an altimeter. The Leroy 01 also had 3 interchangeable celestial charts representing the sky over Paris, Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.
With the watchmaking expertise, Leroy has fruitful collaborations with some of the most esteemed observatories worldwide. On 26th August 1932, the present watch was submitted for rating at the Observatory of Besançon and achieved an impressive score of 169.35 points. Additionally, it received a first-class rating, as indicated by the engraving on the cuvette. The prestigious viper's head hallmark stamped on the movement by the Observatory of Besançon serves as further testament to the watch's success during the trial.
The present example boasts an impressive minute repeating perpetual calendar chronograph movement, a remarkable feat of mechanical prowess, particularly for the 1930s. The engine-turned dial adds to the watch's allure and is exceptionally well-balanced, notably it also features a rare full-year indication at the 6 o'clock aperture, showcasing the watch's exceptional excellence.
CHARLES FRODSHAM, An extremely rare, exceptional, and historically important open-faced yellow gold minute repeating grande sonnerie clock watch, 1917 Estimate $200,000 – $400,000 To be offered in The New York Watch Auction: X
Phillips is honored to offer this exceptional Charles Frodsham Minute Repeating Grand Sonnerie Clock Watch with Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, and Moon Phase. This magnificent timepiece is one of only two known with these combined complications made by the famed English watchmaker. Amongst the finest watches ever made by the storied firm, its exceptional craftsmanship and quality make it a remarkable, museum-quality timepiece showcasing the very best of British horology.
Charles Frodsham, a renowned British watchmaker born into a dynasty of horologists, established himself as a leading figure in the 19th-century horological landscape. This clock watch, weighing one full pound and measuring 75mm in diameter, is a horological tour de force, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and innovation. It combines the functions of a watch and a clock, featuring a minute repeater and a grande sonnerie complication that chimes the hours and quarters at each quarter.
With its spectacular hand-made dial, intricate complications, and impeccable state of preservation, this Charles Frodsham clock watch is a testament to British horology at its finest.
S. SMITH & SONS, An exceptional, highly important, and extremely fine yellow gold hunter cased grande and petite sonnerie minute repeating clock watch with tourbillon, 1899 Estimate $80,000 – $160,000 To be offered in The New York Watch Auction: X
Alongside early 20th century contemporaries such as Charles Frodsham, Dent, and J. Player & Son, S. Smith and Son were responsible for producing some of the finest watches in the world, with many of the world’s wealthiest, such as John Pierpont Morgan, as their patrons. Measuring an impressive 60mm in diameter, the present S. Smith & Son clock watch from 1899 is an exceptional example of the finest in English horology. Combining a grande and petite sonnerie with minute repeater, it will strike the hours and quarters automatically, as well as strike the hours, quarter and minutes on demand. Designed for maximum timekeeping precision, the gilt brass, three quarter plate double train movement with differential winding was made by Nicole Nielsen, one of the most respected makers of complicated movements of the era. Exquisite details, such as mirror polished steel bridges, jewels set within screwed-in gold settings, and beautiful blued steel screws, make the movement breath-taking to behold. Fitted with an extremely fine and superbly hand-finished tourbillon, with free-sprung balance and overcoil balance spring, the movement was sent for Kew Observatory testing, receiving a Class ‘A’ Especially Good certificate with 81.4 marks in 1901 – an absolutely impressive achievement for such a complicated masterpiece. Time is indicated by the wonderful white enamel dial made and signed by Willis, another master at his craft.
THE NORTHERN GOLDSMITHS CO., An extremely rare and important yellow gold hunter cased pocket chronometer with eccentric one minute tourbillon regulator, 1922 Estimate $40,000 – $80,000 To be offered in The New York Watch Auction: X
The Northern Goldsmiths series of eccentric, one-minute tourbillon pocket watches are widely considered as some of the finest, most important, and accurate British pocket watches made during the early 20th century. It is Phillips’ honor to present a beautifully preserved example that has remained in the same collection for over three decades.
One of only 9 known examples of a possible 15 produced between 1917 and 1922, the present watch was sent to the Kew Observatory at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington for testing in 1919, and received 89.2 marks, earning a Kew A “Especially Good” rating. Housed within an extremely high-quality 18 karat yellow gold hunter case with 5-knuckle joints and a raised push piece, the frosted gilt three-quarter plate movement exhibits finest quality, hand-made details, such as jewels housed in screwed-in gold chatons, mirror polished bridges and tourbillon cage, and beautifully beveled gear axles.
The tourbillon escapement, of course is the star of the show. The polished steel double-arm bridge, referred to in scholarship as the “Better 1” design attributed to Sidney Better, and houses a “Better type-2” carriage with offset arms. Free-sprung and fitted with a blued steel balance wheel with terminal curve, the entire design was made for maximum timekeeping accuracy – and its Especially Good rating at Kew proves it. Beautifully preserved with its mesmerizing, eccentric tourbillon cage immediately captivating to the eye, it is an exceptional opportunity for the discerning collector.
S. SMITH & SONS, An exceptional, extremely rare, and important yellow gold minute repeating split-seconds hunter cased perpetual calendar pocket watch with moon phase, 1899 Estimate $40,000 – $80,000 To be offered in The New York Watch Auction: X
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the finest watches in the world were being produced by British makers, and they are now cherished by collectors for their rarity, complexity, and beauty. The present S. Smith & Son “Grande Complication” combining a minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph, and perpetual calendar with moon phase, is a true masterpiece from the turn of the 20th century. The history of horology is fully embodied by this pocket watch and its masterful craftsmanship. The massive (239.1grams/0.5 pounds) 59mm diameter hunter case is comprised of four components crafted from solid 18 karat gold, exhibiting the best of English standards with the use of 5-knuckle hinges for the inner cuvette and front and back covers. The watch was submitted to the Kew Observatory for testing in 1899 and entered in the ‘Complicated Category’, where it achieved an ‘A’ certificate with 70.4 marks. The split-seconds chronograph is activated by two pushers at 11 and 1 o’clock with the elapsed time indicated via the 60 minute recorder within the sub-dial at 12 o’clock that is combined with the leap year indication and months of the year.
The lovely white enamel dial with Roman numerals elegantly presents multiple subsidiary dials indicating the day of the week and date, along with running seconds combined with an aperture for the moon phase. Made and signed by by Frederick Willis, his dials were of the highest quality used by the very best British makers in their most important watches.
Throughout history, British horology has exemplified the spirit of ingenuity and innovation, and the present S. Smith & Son pocket watch is a testament to this outstanding legacy. A shining example of exceptional British watchmaking, the present watch has not been seen in public since it was first offered at auction in 1990.
S. SMITH & SONS, An extremely rare and important yellow gold open-face split-seconds pocket chronometer with one minute tourbillon, circa 1900 Estimate $50,000 – $100,000 To be offered in The New York Watch Auction: X
Prominently featured in Geoge Daniels and Cecil Clutton’s book Watches, the present lot features one of the highest-grade movements of its era, cased and sold by S. Smith & Sons. Manufactured by Nicole, Nielsen, and Co. for the prestigious retailer, it was based on a Victorin Elysée Piguet ébauche. From 1870 until 1933, Nicole, Nielsen, and Co. produced some of the finest and most complicated English watch movements, often working in partnership with S. Smith & Sons.
The finest English hand craftsmanship is evident throughout, particularly in the visible split-chronograph mechanism. The large balance wheel, fitted with 16 timing screws made of gold, is set within a Nicole Nielsen type-2 one-minute tourbillon carriage featuring three mirror polished, stepped carriage arms. A highest-quality “single-button” chronograph design, the crown starts, stops, and resets the chronograph function, and a pusher on the case at 11 o’clock stops and resets the split-seconds, or rattrapante, hand. A highest quality movement in terms of finishing, it was submitted to the Kew Observatory six times between 1901 and 1905. The best result was in 1902, where it achieved a remarkable Especially Good ‘A’ rating of 82 marks.
Weighing a more-than-impressive 191 grams, the polished 18K yellow gold four-bodied case, made in a time where all cases were crafted by hand, measures 59mm in diameter with all the attributes of a quality English case; turning pendant, 5-knuckle joints, and a raised push piece. Preserved in remarkable condition, the consignor has owned this watch since its purchase at auction in 1989, and it remains in the identical state of preservation, having never been used since then.
The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII Auctions: Session I, 24 May 2 pm HKT | Session II, 25 May 2 pm HKT Viewing: 17 – 25 May 2024 Location: 1/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong Auctions: Session I, 8 June 10am ET| Session II, 9 June 10am ET Viewing: 5-7 June 2024 Location: 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY, United States
Images are available for download here.
HIGHLIGHTS TOUR Singapore | 26-28 April | The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road (Hong Kong & New York Watches) Taipei | 4–5 May | Bellavita - B1, No 89, Songren Road, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan (Hong Kong Watches Only) Geneva | 8–12 May | Hotel President, Quai Wilson 47, Geneva (Hong Kong & New York Watches) Hong Kong | 17-25 May| 1/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Hong Kong & New York Watches) 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. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, with its Geneva Watch Auction: XIV having realized $74.5 million in 2021. 2023 marked the second most successful year for Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo with an annual total of $215.8 million.
Record–breaking prices include:
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 vintage 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 vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch at auction.
ABOUT PHILLIPS Phillips: where the world’s curious and bold connect with the art, design and luxury that inspires them. As a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, Phillips offers dedicated expertise in the areas of Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels. Auctions and exhibitions are primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips offers a regular selection of live and online auctions, along with items available for immediate purchase. Phillips also offers a range of services and advice on all aspects of collecting, including private sales and assistance with appraisals, valuations, and financial planning. Visit phillips.com for further information.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
PRESS CONTACTS: NEW YORK – Jaime Israni, Head of PR and Corporate Communications, Americas jisrani@phillips.com NEW YORK – Paul Lerner, Consultant plerner@optimistconsulting.com HONG KONG – Ingrid Hsu, Public Relations & Communications Director, Asia ingridhsu@phillips.com
PHILLIPS NEW YORK – 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 PHILLIPS LONDON – 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX PHILLIPS HONG KONG – G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road, West Kowloon PHILLIPS GENEVA – Rue de la Confédération, 7 Geneva 1204
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