Phillips is pleased to announce highlights from The New York Watch Auction: NINE ahead of the worldwide tour, beginning this week. Taking place on 9-10 December at 432 Park Avenue, the auction will present a breadth of important timepieces by leading brands and independent makers that capture the illustrious history of watchmaking, along with its innovative trajectory. Highlights of the auction include two extremely early FP Journe watches with matching serial numbers, a superb George Daniels Millennium wristwatch, the only known Patek Philippe minute repeating pocket watch with linear perpetual calendar in white gold, and MB&F’s Horological Machine 4. Phillips is also proud to offer the unique Casio 40th Anniversary G-SHOCK watch – a remarkable timepiece created through the use of AI, of which 100% of proceeds will benefit charity. Highlights from the sale will embark on an international tour to London, Singapore, Los Angeles, Geneva, Taipei, and Hong Kong, before returning to New York in December.
Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas, and Isabella Proia, Head of Sale, New York, said, “We are delighted to conclude the year with such a remarkable selection of timepieces in The New York Watch Auction: NINE. The timeless appeal of these exquisite watches serves as a testament to the enduring craftsmanship in our industry, not only reflecting the rich history of watchmaking but also enthusiastically looking toward the future. From the handmade Co-Axial escapement of George Daniels’ Millennium wristwatch to the AI-generated full-metal, shock-resistant structure of the Casio 40th Anniversary G-SHOCK – we are proud to showcase a curated selection of horological treasures, which offer a glimpse into a market that celebrates both heritage and innovation. We look forward to welcoming enthusiasts at one of our many preview exhibitions around the world, and to Phillips’ New York headquarters on December 9th and 10th for this live, flagship auction.”
Estimate: $500,000 to $1,000,000
F.P. Journe’s interpretation of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s masterful invention of the tourbillon has catapulted his creations into the most esteemed collections worldwide. At Baselworld in 1999, Journe officially presented his Tourbillon Souverain, the very first wristwatch tourbillon with a remontoir, that would start him on the path to his present success. Collectors, retailers, and enthusiasts were enamored of Journe’s vision, and through a sprawling global network of retailers, Journe was not only able to establish a workshop, but a reputation as one of the greatest living independent watchmakers.
Estimate: $500,000 to $1,000,000
The original owner of these two lots – and indeed his successor, the present lots’ consignor – was no doubt one of those for whom Journe’s vision resonated. Almost unheard of at the time, he purchased both the Tourbillon and the Resonance within two months of each other, the T in March of 2000 and the R in May of 2000, both from the same Geneva-based retailer. A set like this is unprecedented in the realm of collecting F.P. Journe. Not only do both watches have matching serial numbers, but they are also both complete with all of the original accessories that would have accompanied the watches upon their delivery in 2000. Having seen only two owners in the past 23 years, they have been carefully and sparingly worn and cherished. Even more extraordinary, both watches have never been serviced or experienced any intervention. They are completely and entirely as they were made at the turn of the millennium – it is very likely, even, that the last person to touch the dial and movements of these two watches was François-Paul himself. Being immaculate in their originality, and bearing all the fascinating, early hallmarks of their respective series, Phillips is thrilled to offer this matched set of Journe’s pioneering creations side-by-side.
Estimate: $300,000-600,000
The beating heart of nearly every mechanical watch from the last 250 years can be traced back to the invention of the lever escapement. It was never truly improved upon until 1975, when it was completely revolutionized over-night, as George Daniels woke up with the idea of his near frictionless Co-Axial escapement.
The Co-Axial was more energy efficient than the contemporary Swiss lever escapement, not reliant on lubrication and boasted greatly increased service intervals. Despite its ability to transform the watchmaking industry, Daniels struggled for 20 years to get the most important Swiss brands to adopt the Daniels Escapement and adapt his hand-made innovation for mass production. Finally, in 1999, the technicians at ETA and Omega were eventually able to present the first production models, finally cementing the Co-Axial’s place in history, but of course, all signed Omega.
In addition to Daniels rightly being celebrated in the early Omega marketing of their ground-breaking new regulator, part of the commercial agreement was that Daniels would receive a number of Omega ébauche movements. These would be the platform for Mr. Daniels’ very first serially produced timepieces. These calibers were reworked and cased by himself and his young apprentice, Roger Smith, for sale to a growing number of clamoring friends, clients, and collectors. This example, delivered in the year 2000, showcases many of the visual cues and eccentricities of the pocket chronometers the Daniels name is synonymous with. Indeed, the Millenium clearly shares the bloodline of the world record setting ‘Spring Case’ tourbillon from 1992. Offered with the original box, documentation and correspondence from Daniels himself, this is one of only 48 watches that neither mark the closing of 20th Century watchmaking nor the birth of the 21st-century horology, but perfectly unites the two.
Estimate $200,000 – 400,000
The present reference 844 white gold minute repeating perpetual calendar pocket watch is certainly amongst the most elegant Patek Philippe pocket watch designs of the past century. It was introduced in 1965 and indeed the design is typical of that period, featuring a minimalist dial, devoid of any graphics save for the watchmaker’s signature and minimal time divisions. The key feature of the reference, the linear calendar displaying the day, date, and month on a central aperture at 12 o’clock, further amplifies the watch’s overall aesthetic of purity and balance. The in-line design was far ahead of its time, serving as the inspiration to Patek Philippe’s latest perpetual calendar wristwatch, the reference 5236P introduced in 2021. The Antoine Gerlach case, with its angular and stepped design, is a wonderful example of the spirit of that era. According to research, this important pocket watch is believed to be one of only two white gold examples with a linear calendar produced, but is the only one that is publicly known.
Hailing from the collection of the renowned European collector, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver, the present Patek Philippe ref. 844 is offered in pristine condition, having, in our view, never been polished. The watch is further accompanied by a platinum watch chain, adding to the overall elegance of the timepiece. A watch connoisseur’s dream, it is an ultimate representation of the best of 20th-century horology.
Estimate: $200,000-400,000
Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak “Minute Repeater Supersonnerie” is the ultimate in luxury wristwatches with the sporty Royal Oak case and the refined complication of a minute repeater, all housed in lightweight and robust titanium. The watch can be considered a true gem of Audemars Piguet’s technical proficiency, as well as the ultimate paragon of their definition of sport luxury. When Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak in 1972, nobody immediately understood the disruptive power of a model which was destined to truly change the face of the luxury watch market, and whose effects still reverberate today. Since its beginnings 51 years ago, the model has become an icon with a diverse collection of timepieces from time-only to very rare watches like the present “Minute Repeater Supersonnerie”.
The original “Concept Supersonnerie” was released in 2014 and displayed Audemars Piguet’s exceptional complication mastery. The timepiece was a historical new take on design and demonstrated their ability to create a loud and sonorous tone from a minute repeater. The new “Concept Supersonnerie” set a new standard in the ability of the timepiece to chime with three patents, one for the gongs, one for a refined regulator, and the third for a case back with apertures. The Royal Oak “Minute Repeater Supersonnerie” was released in 2019 in a limited edition of twenty example in titanium, like the present watch, with this example being the only one known accompanied with a second, salmon dial. The Royal Oak “Minute Repeater Supersonnerie” is a celebration of Audemars Piguet’s iconic wristwatch as well as their expertise in creating ultimate watchmaking complications.
Estimate: $70,000-140,000
After spending a decade restoring the finest horological creations of the past three centuries, Kari Voutilainen became a rising star in the watchmaking scene in the early 2000s with his unique piece decimal minute repeater, chiming every ten minutes rather than the quarter hours. These first examples were soon followed by his Observatoire and Vingt-8 models with movement finishing of the highest level.
Voutilainen’s dial treatments and finishing, all created completely by hand, are instantly recognizable by horological connoisseurs, having become something of a brand signature. The present Vingt-8 is no different, fitted with a hand-guillochéd two-tone dial in a darker teal-blue and vibrant ultramarine. It features an optical illusion pattern, as one’s brain perceives the dial to be three-dimensional. While this pattern was featured in a series of Vingt-8s released in 2020, the present watch is unique in that it is cased in platinum, as opposed to white or pink gold, as well as the unique color combinations.
Preserved in outstanding condition, the present watch is fresh-to-the-market coming from the collection of the original owner. While Voutilanen has become an auction darling in the past few years, an optical illusion dial has not yet appeared at public auction, marking this as an exceptional opportunity to own a unique Voutilainen timepiece – without the 7-year wait.
Estimate: $70,000-140,000
Phillips is proud to partner with Casio in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the iconic G-SHOCK with the presentation of a truly unique, groundbreaking timepiece. Adhering to the theme “Break the Boundary,” this project features the innovative, exploratory use of generative design — a computer-aided design technique that uses AI to optimize the design process — for the watch’s exterior design. A full-metal shock-resistant structure with a creatively original organic form was achieved using a process of co-creation between human developers and AI. Based on a design framework created by the human designers, data accumulated over 40 years of G-SHOCK development was fed into the AI system to generate a 3D model optimized for factors such as structural strength, material characteristics, and processing methods. Repeated manual revisions were then made to the AI suggestion to produce external components with creative, original forms and function. The original, organic forms seen in the bezel, band, and face reveal an all-new beauty of form. At the same time, they contribute to weight reduction and enhanced shock absorption. As a result of this creative process, a full-metal shock-resistant structure has been achieved without the use of resin buffering or anything simliar.
The case, bezel, and bracelet are all crafted from 18-karat gold. Careful hand polishing has been applied in meticulous detail, giving the components a stunning lustre with a look of both profundity and precision.
The creation of this watch marks a new chapter for G-SHOCK, with a special model in a worldwide limited edition of just one, entirely infused with the G-SHOCK identity of commitment to continuous innovation. 100% of the proceeds from this sale will be donated to a charity, which will be named at a later date.
Estimate $80,000 – 160,000
The design of the Horological Machine 4 is directly inspired by the fuselage of the P47-Thunderbolt fighter plane. The movement took three full years to develop and is ingeniously placed on a horizontal plane. Dual mainspring barrels drive two vertical gear trains, transferring power to the dial indicating hours and minutes on the right and power reserve on the left. Each fuselage is surrounded by a sapphire crystal enabling the owner to have a glimpse into the mechanics. Creating these crystals requires over 185 hours of machining and polishing to achieve
The Horological Machine 4 was awarded the prize for the Best Concept & Design Watch at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie of Geneva in 2010. The present HM4 comes directly from the collection of the original owner, an important collector of independent watches. In well-preserved condition, it comes complete with all of its original accessories.
Click here for more information: https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/NY080223
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.
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 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.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.