Phillips’ GAME CHANGERS Watch Auction Realises $20.2 Million in a White Glove Sale

Aurel Bacs, Phillips’ Senior Consultant, said, “Our third annual New York watch auction, GAME CHANGERS, brought together an extraordinary group of timepieces that were owned by those who have reached unprecedented heights in their field, alongside truly groundbreaking watch models by leading brands. The unprecedented success of tonight’s sale is a testament to the ever-growing community of discerning watch enthusiasts, who responded enthusiastically to the meticulously curated sale of 74 lots. It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to preside over this record-breaking auction.”

Paul Boutros, Phillips’ Head of Watches, Americas, added, “It was an honor to work with such an exceptional group of consignors this season, many of whose iconic watches were sold to benefit charitable organizations. I was humbled to have had the opportunity to meet Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time, and Petra Brando Fischer, Marlon Brando’s daughter, who so openly shared such wonderful memories of her father. Witnessing their extraordinary generosity was a game-changing experience. Mr. Nicklaus’ prized Rolex Day-Date realized $1.22 million for the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, while Marlon Brando’s Rolex GMT-Master achieved $1.952 million, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Brando Fischer Foundation. We were delighted to see a great deal of international participation in the sale, with bidders from over 50 countries enthusiastically raising their paddles, especially for the watches whose proceeds are being donated to such worthy causes.”

 

Leading the auction was Urwerk’s Atomic Mechanical Control, a tour-de-force of modern watchmaking, which realized $2.9 million, setting a new world record for the independent Swiss brand. Offered along with a mechanical wristwatch, Urwerk devoted 10 years of research and development to create this masterful work of art, leading to one of the most important timepieces ever created.

 

Patek Philippe’s exceedingly rare “pink-on-pink” reference 1518 sold for $2.3 million, having been consigned from the family of the original owner, while the Patek Philippe reference 2499 in yellow gold achieved $2,024,000. Its discovery changed established scholarship, with round pushers originally delivered by Patek Philippe, making it one of the most important examples of the reference to ever surface.

 

Jack Nicklaus’ Rolex Day‐Date Reference 1803 achieved a remarkable $1.22 million, soaring past its low estimate of $100,000. It graced the wrist of Mr. Nicklaus nearly every day since 1967 and was present when he won 12 of his record 18 professional major championship titles. The Day‐Date is Rolex’s most prestigious model and one of the world’s most famous watches. 100% of the sale proceeds from this lot will directly benefit the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

After over 20 minutes of bidding from collectors across 3 continents, underscoring the enduring legacy of the most iconic actor of the 20th century, Marlon Brando’s Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675 sold for $1,952,000. With absolutely superb provenance, it was famously seen on Brando’s wrist in Apocalypse Now and long thought to have been missing.

Additionally, Vacheron Constantin’s unique Overseas Dual Time Prototype sold for $106,250, with proceeds going toward the National Geographic Society; Tag Heuer’s Monaco Piece d’Art was sold to benefit United Way of New York City; proceeds from watches by Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet will benefit One Drop; and Random Act Funding will benefit from the sale of the Urwerk UR-105 CT Iron worn by Robert Downey, Jr. in Avengers: Endgame.

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
8	URWERK.  A unique, extremely rare, and historically innovative Atomic Master Clock with paired titanium wristwatch with power reserve and oil change indicator, with certificate of origin WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE BRAND	$1,000,000 – 2,000,000	$2,900,000 CHF2,853,600 €2,613,480
64	PATEK PHILIPPE. Ref. 1518,  A previously unknown, extremely rare, and highly attractive pink gold perpetual chronograph wristwatch with pink dial and moon phase WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A REF. 1518 IN PINK GOLD	$1,200,000 – 2,400,000	$2,300,000 CHF2,263,200 €2,072,760
40	PATEK PHILIPPE. Ref. 2499,  A possibly unique, previously unknown, and extremely well-preserved yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phase, retailed by Gübelin	$1,000,000 – 2,000,000	$2,024,000 CHF1,991,616 €1,824,029
30	ROLEX. GMT-Master, Ref. 1675,An iconic, historically important, and remarkably well-preserved stainless steel dual-time wristwatch with date WORN BY MARLON BRANDO IN APOCALYPSE NOW WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A ROLEX GMT-MASTER	Estimate on Request	$1,952,000 CHF1,920,768 €1,759,142
18	ROLEX. Day-Date, Ref. 1803, A fine and culturally significant yellow gold wristwatch with day, date and bracelet, sold to benefit the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF JACK NICKLAUS WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A ROLEX DAY-DATE	$100,000 – 200,000	$1,220,000 CHF1,200,480 €1,099,464
20	ROLEX. Cosmograph Daytona, Ref. 6264, An extraordinarily rare, extremely attractive, and important yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with “Paul Newman Lemon” dial and service guarantee	$450,000 – 900,000	$884,000 CHF869,856 €796,661
63	ROLEX. Cosmograph Daytona, Ref. 6241, A very fine, well-preserved, and highly attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with “Paul Newman” dial and original guarantee	$350,000 – 700,000	$758,000 CHF745,872 €683,110
55	ROLEX. Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665,  A very rare, well preserved and historically important stainless steel wristwatch with date and bracelet, with original guarantee, box made for the Sultan of Oman, from the son of the original owner, including a hand-written letter on the history of the watch and related provenance material	$200,000 – 400,000	$462,500 CHF455,100 €416,805
48	ROLEX. Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6263,  A rare, extremely well-preserved, and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with “Paul Newman” dial and bracelet	$300,000 – 600,000	$425,000 CHF418,200 €383,010
29	PATEK PHILIPPE. Nautilus Ref. 5711/1P-010,  An important and extremely rare platinum automatic wristwatch with seconds, date, bracelet, and Certificate of Origin	$250,000 – 500,000	$356,250 CHF350,550 €321,053