文章 | Delving Into The Stern Freres Archives With Dr Helmut Crott
Delving into the Stern Frères Archives with Dr. Helmut Crott
Watch expert, historian and author, Dr. Helmut Crott joins Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo’s Aurel Bacs to investigate a rare Rolex “Dragon” Ref. 6085, drawing on rare archival material never before seen on film.
Our first live watch auction of 2026, the PHILLIPS Geneva Watch Auction: XXIII, will take place on May 9 and 10 at Hotel President Wilson in Geneva. The sale will feature more than 200 rare and collectible timepieces spanning vintage and contemporary horology, and brings together a particularly strong and varied catalogue, with a wide range of standout watches across collecting categories. In the lead-up to the auction, we are highlighting a selection of lots and stories from the sale, including the watches featured in this article.
Sophie Furley
Researching rare timepieces can sometimes feel like stepping into an Indiana Jones adventure, as we hunt for answers to historical details surrounding watches that long pre-date the Internet. The process is resolutely old school, unfolding through books, vintage auction catalogues, period magazines, brand archives, and often through the generosity of friends and colleagues who share the same passion for horological knowledge.
In the case of the Rolex “Dragon” Ref. 6085, it was Phillips’ Advisory Board Member Dr. Helmut Crott who opened the door to a remarkable cache of documents from famed dial-maker Stern Frères (aka Stern Créations SA, which was purchased by Richemont in 2000), specifically related to this very wristwatch.
Together with Aurel Bacs, he deciphers the reference numbers engraved on the back of the dial to pinpoint where, when, and by whom this spectacular cloisonné enamel dial was created. Join them as they bring these Stern Frères archives to life and reveal the story behind one of the most enigmatic Rolex enamel dials ever made.
Lot 119: A 1952 Rolex 'The Dragon' Ref. 6085 in 18k yellow gold with cloisonné enamel dial by Nelly Richard, included in the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: XXIII. Estimate: CHF 500,000 - 1,000,000
You can learn more, place a bid, and view the entire Geneva Watch Auction: XXIII catalogue right here.
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. Over the course of 2021 and 2022, the company sold 100% of the watches offered, a first in the industry, resulting in the highest annual total in history across all the auction houses at $227 million.
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