Phillips Nets $25M in NYC, Concluding Exceptional Spring Season for Watch Sales

NEW YORK – 8 JUNE 2025 – A triumphant conclusion to Phillips’ spring season of watch sales, The New York Watch Auction: XII achieved $25 million, selling 100% by lot and 100% by value. The auction marks four and a half years — nine consecutive auctions — of 100%-sold “white glove” live auctions for Phillips Watches in New York.

Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas, and Isabella Proia, Head of Sale and Senior International Specialist, jointly said, “Following a record-breaking year for Phillips Watches in New York, we were thrilled by the results of The New York Watch Auction: XII. Drawing fierce competition from bidders across 70 countries, over a third of the globe was represented in our saleroom this weekend, underscoring the enduring, international demand for collectors’ timepieces. American participation, in particular, was extraordinary, comprising nearly half of all registrants in the auction. The sale was led by our cover lots, two exceptional Patek Philippe watches, including a Ref. 1518 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, which realized $1.45 million, and a fresh-to-market reference 570, which realized over $1 million. Independent makers also soared, with models by F.P.Journe, Kari Voutilainen, De Bethune, and Atelier de Chronométrie soaring past their pre-sale estimates. We continue to be inspired by the extraordinary timepieces entrusted to us—from fresh-to-market vintage treasures with remarkable provenance, to contemporary masterpieces from the world’s most innovative watchmakers. Our thanks go out to our consignors and buyers, and we look forward to welcoming the global collecting community back to 432 Park Avenue for our next season of sales.”

Heritage brands performed exceptionally well throughout the course of the event, including timepieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and A. Lange & Söhne. Leading the auction was an exceptional yellow gold Patek Philippe reference 1518, which was offered for the first time in nearly 40 years, after being cherished for decades in a private American collection. The extraordinary timepiece sold for $1.45 million, nearly four times its low estimate, achieving the second highest price in history for the reference in yellow gold.

A fresh-to-market, stainless steel Patek Philippe Calatrava reference 570 in breathtaking condition also made its auction debut, selling for over $1 million, to a phone bidder, the second highest price achieved for the reference. In Phillips’ research, only four examples of a stainless steel 570 with large Breguet numerals and three-tone dial are known to the public, of which this is the fourth.

A historic Rolex “Big Red” Daytona Ref. 6265, once owned by legendary French Formula One driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille drew international interest in the lead up to the auction, ultimately selling to a bidder on the phone for $215,900, more than twice the high estimate. Gifted by the automaker Renault to commemorate Jabouille’s groundbreaking 1979 French Grand Prix victory—the first for both Renault and a French racing team—the watch features an incredible caseback engraving: “DIE TO DRIVE – RENAULT F1 – J.P.J. 79.”

Each of the eight Cartier lots sold above the high estimate, including the Cartier Ref. 78102 Coussin Bamboo “Jumbo,” which sold for $177,800 against an estimate of $15,000-30,000, a new world record for the reference in yellow gold.

Independent makers commanded strong prices throughout the weekend’s sale. A contemporary evolution of F.P.Journe’s Répétition Souveraine sparked a six-minute bidding war, ultimately realizing $685,800, a new auction record price. This example featured a striking smoked sapphire dial—a modern and captivating enhancement to an already revolutionary timepiece. Also serving as testament to the enormous demand for Journe, the Tourbillon Anniversaire Historique “T30” offered by Phillips soared to $889,000 against a low estimate of $180,000, a new record for the model.

A new record was achieved for a Harry Winston Opus series with the Opus One Chronomètre à Résonance — the inaugural edition of the watch, made in collaboration with F.P.Journe — achieving $838,200.

A. Lange & Söhne also drew enthusiasm from across the globe. The unique 1815 Chronograph “Concorso,” which served as the top prize for one of the world’s most prestigious car concourse events, realized $736,600 against a low estimate of $100,000 following nearly eight minutes of bidding. Bearing a spectacular pink gold dial with brown subsidiary dials — a feature not seen before for this reference — the present, “1 of 1” watch is the very first Lange timepiece awarded to a concourse winner to be offered publicly.

Ladies’ watches performed especially well in The New York Watch Auction: XII. Leading the group was the Patek Philippe Ref. 7000R-001 Ladies’ Minute Repeater, which sold for $349,250, a world record for the reference. The Bulgari Tubogas was the highest outperforming lot of the sale, achieving $170,180 against a low estimate of just $4,000, while the Piaget Ref. 9902 C42 “Tiger Eye” realized $16,510, eight times its estimate.

Top Ten Lots