GENEVA – 11 May 2025 – Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo achieved a remarkable total of CHF 43.4 million at The Geneva Watch Auction: XXI, underscoring strong market confidence and reaffirming its global leadership position. A tightly curated sale, combined with sustained global demand, drove exceptional results – more than doubling the pre-sale estimate. With participation from 1,820 registered bidders across 71 countries, including 1,580 online, along with a packed saleroom, energetic telephone banks, and dynamic online activity, the auction demonstrated the enduring strength of the market and a robust global appetite for rare and important timepieces.
Alexandre Ghotbi, Deputy Chairman & Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East and Tiffany To, Senior International Watch Specialist and Head of Sale, jointly said: “The strength of the market was on full display this weekend, with passionate bidding and exceptional results for timepieces spanning over 150 years of watchmaking – from wristwatches, pocket watches to clocks from Switzerland, Germany, England, and France. These results reaffirm the enduring appeal of great watchmaking. But beyond the numbers, what continues to define these moments is the spirit of friendship among our team and the genuine bond we share with our collectors around the world. This is a community built not just on horology, but on trust, shared history, and a love for craftsmanship. We’re honoured to be part of it.”
The top lot was the Breguet Pendule Sympathique Clock No. 1, which achieved CHF 5,505,000. Built by F.P. Journe and Techniques Horlogères Appliquées in 1991, the clock is a modern tribute to Breguet’s history and legacy of horological innovation. The Sympathique clock was purchased by F.P. Journe himself as an addition for his brand museum.
Vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches also drew intense interest with the sale of the only known Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 in 18k pink gold for CHF 2,722,000. The world’s first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch, the ref. 3448 has been beloved by collectors for decades. Produced between 1962 and 1982, almost all examples were cased in yellow or white gold. This example in pink gold is the only example known to exist.
The Cartier Portico Mystery Clock No. 3, a museum-quality masterpiece of Art Deco design from 1924, commanded bidders’ attention resulting in a sale price of CHF 3,932,000. Only six Cartier Portico clocks exist, with No. 3 among the most opulent. First exhibited at the 1925 Exposition des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the clock resurfaced at Phillips after more than three decades in private hands.
Vintage Rolex wristwatches continued to captivate bidders, with exceptional results for “Paul Newman” Daytonas. A fresh-to-market ref. 6264 in yellow gold with a gorgeous “Lemon” dial fetched CHF 825,500, and a champagne-dial ref. 6239 in yellow gold realized CHF 508,000. Other standout Rolex results included a pink gold “Padellone” ref. 8171 at CHF 508,000, and a yellow gold ref. 6238 “Pre-Daytona” with a glossy black dial at CHF 533,400.
A remarkable CHF 1,178,560 was raised for the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation from the sale of 11 one-of-a-kind timepieces, led by a unique Philippe Dufour Simplicity with a dial crafted from butterfly wings that achieved CHF 647,700.
Independent watchmakers continued to command strong prices, with an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain with ruby heart dial realizing CHF 1,633,000 and a Chronomètre à Résonance with black mother-of-pearl dial selling for CHF 685,800. A Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing prototype, the thinnest mechanical watch ever made, achieved CHF 508,000. The first Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans to appear at auction sold for CHF 203,200. Watches by Charles Frodsham, Christian Klings, Daniel Roth, Haldimann, and Urban Jürgensen also saw impressive results.
A unique, minute-repeating Vacheron Constantin ref. 6448 with a brushed platinum case from 1961 sold for CHF 698,500, far exceeding its estimate of CHF 120,000 to 240,000.
Universal Genève donated a one-of-a-kind Polerouter SAS model in 18k white gold with a handmade chain-mesh bracelet, an attractive blue dial, and a vintage UG micro-rotor movement. This new watch, one of the first from the recently revived brand under new ownership, achieved CHF 71,120, with all proceeds benefiting a chainmaking training program at the Centre de Formation Professionnelle Arts in Geneva.
| Lot | Description | Estimate | Price Achieved |
| 18 | F.P. Journe X THA for Breguet, A monumental, historically important clock accompanied by a yellow gold tourbillon wristwatch WORLD RECORD | In Excess of CHF 1,000,000 | CHF 5,505,000 $6,619,212.0000 €5,883,744.0000 |
| 118 | Cartier, Portico Mystery Clock, A historically important, unique and museum quality Portico Mystery Clock WORLD RECORD | In Excess of CHF 2,000,000 | CHF 3,932,000 $4,727,836.8000 €4,202,521.6000 |
| 74 | Patek Philippe, Ref. 3448, An exceptionally important, very well preserved pink gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch | CHF2,000,000 – 4,000,000 | CHF 2,722,000 $3,272,932.8000 €2,909,273.6000 |
| 116 | F.P. Journe, Tourbillon Souverain, A majestic and extremely rare tourbillon wristwatch WORLD RECORD | CHF250,000 – 500,000 | CHF 1,633,000 $1,963,519.2000 €1,745,350.4000 |
| 24 | A. Lange & Söhne, Grande Complication, A historically important pink gold minute repeating, grande and petite sonnerie clock watch WORLD RECORD | CHF500,000 – 1,000,000 | CHF 1,168,400 $1,404,884.1600 €1,248,785.9200 |
| 179 | Rolex, Ref. 6264, Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman Lemon”, A fresh to the market, extraordinarily rare, and important yellow gold chronograph wristwatch | CHF600,000 – 1,200,000 | CHF 825,500 $992,581.2000 €882,294.4000 |
| 141 | Charles Frodsham, Quarter repeating, grande & petite sonnerie perpetual calendar, carriage clock with tourbillon and power reserve WORLD RECORD | CHF100,000 – 200,000 | CHF 812,800 $977,310.7200 €868,720.6400 |
| 57 | Vacheron Constantin, Ref. 6448 “Unique Piece”, A unique and fresh to the market brushed platinum minute repeating wristwatch WORLD RECORD | CHF120,000 – 240,000 | CHF 698,500 $839,876.4000 €746,556.8000 |
| 17 | F.P. Journe, Chronomètre à Résonance “Sincere Fine Watches”, A very rare and important platinum chronometer wristwatch | CHF200,000 – 400,000 | CHF 685,800 $824,605.9200 €732,983.0400 |
| 129 | Philippe Dufour, Simplicity “Unique” – Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation | In Excess of CHF 400,000 | CHF 647,700 $778,794.4800 €692,261.7600 |
Exchange Rate on 10 & 11 May: CHF1 = $1.2024, €1.0688, £0.9038
