Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Achieves CHF 45 Million for The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI with a White Glove Sale.
The Result Concludes a Ground-Breaking 2022 for Geneva, with all Auctions Selling 100% of Lots Offered, and a Market Leading Annual Sale Total of Almost CHF 112,000,000, as Phillips Continues to its Market Leadership in Geneva.
A Game Changing Weekend for Independent Watchmaking, the Sale was Led by the Exceptionally Rare George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon, Selling for CHF 4,083,500
World Auction Record Set for any A. Lange & Söhne Timepiece with the Unique 1815 Chronograph “Hampton Court Edition” Selling for CHF 1,058,500, with Proceeds Going to The Prince’s Trust.
Remarkable Results were Achieved for Traditional Historic Brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet.
A Frenzy of Bidding Led to Dozens of World Records over the Weekend with 1,850 Collectors Competing from Across 75 Countries
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo achieves a white glove sale, selling 100% of the lots offered in The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI, resulting in a grand total of CHF 44,979,370 / $45,073,827 / €45,249,246, more than doubling the pre-sale estimate of CHF 19.9 to 37.5 million. Held over two days on 5 and 6 November, the global watch community participated from across 75 countries, with more than 300 collectors contributing in person to the electric energy in the saleroom at La Réserve Hotel, alongside 1,650 bidders competing online. A total number of 226 exceptional watches of the highest quality were offered and sold.
The star lot was the unique Spring Case Tourbillon in yellow gold by George Daniels, the founding father of independent watchmaking. After an intense three-minute bidding war, the watch soared above its pre-sale estimate of CHF 1 million, eventually selling to a bidder in the room for CHF 4,083,500. This marks the highest price ever achieved for a wristwatch by a British maker but also the second highest price achieved by an independent watchmaker – a true milestone in the market. Daniels only made two unique wristwatches for his own personal use; one of these being this exact novel double-dialled spring case watch with one-minute tourbillon and calendar, completed in 1992.
The momentum for George Daniels continued, with the highly anticipated yellow gold Anniversary limited to 35 pieces selling for CHF 693,000 / USD 694,455, and the superb yellow gold Millennium limited to 48 pieces selling for CHF 828,600.
Another star lot of the sale was the unique A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph “Hampton Court Edition”. The energy in the saleroom was electrified as a nine-minute bidding war took the watch to new heights, achieving CHF 1,058,500 and a world auction record for any A. Lange & Söhne watch at auction. The proceeds are going to The Prince’s Trust, including buyer’s premium.
Fetching a world auction record for the model was the exceptional Philippe Dufour Simplicity in white gold, which eventually sold for CHF 1,022,200. With a case/dial configuration that has never been seen on the market before, this wristwatch is a grail for any heeled watch collector, bearing slate grey dial, full pink gold Breguet numerals and pink gold hands.
For many years, Phillips has been a proponent of independent watchmaking and, once again, offered a wide selection of rare, hard-to-find creations from these incredible artisans. Numerous impressive results were achieved for prestigious independent makers such as F.P. Journe, Kari Voutilainen, Vianney Halter, Christian Klings, MB&F, Urwerk, and prototypes from Grönefeld and De Bethune.
A unique Zenith x Voutilainen x Phillips calibre 135-O wristwatch sold for CHF 315,000 with full proceeds going to charity.
Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe and Middle East and Tiffany To, Watch Specialist and Head of Sale, commented: “The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI celebrated not only the pinnacle of independent watchmaking, with the incredible results achieved by the trio of George Daniels wristwatches, let by the Spring Case Tourbillon selling for more than CHF 4 million, but also attested of the incredible appetite of the watch community for rare, high quality collectible vintage and contemporary pieces that reflect horological history. Speaking of history, the Geneva Watch Auction: XVI is, from our perception, but also from what we know of the more extended watch community: the sale with the most variety in terms of brands, styles, complications, designs and relevance. A true milestone for the industry.”
TOP TEN LOTS OF THE GENEVA WATCH AUCTION: XVI
| Lot | Description | Estimate | Price Achieved |
| 27 | GEORGE DANIELS, Spring Case TourbillonA unique, historically important double sided yellow gold wristwatch with power reserve, day and dateWORLD RECORD FOR A WRISTWATCH BY A BRITISH WATCHMAKER | In Excess of CHF1,000,000 | CHF 4,083,500$4,092,075€4,108,001 |
| 153 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 1518A highly important pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphases | CHF 800,000 – 1,600,000 | CHF 1,240,000$1,242,604€1,247,440 |
| 20 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 2499A yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphases and glossy black dial with gilt graphics. The only example known with Extract-confirmed black dial | CHF 400,000 – 800,000 | CHF 1,179,500$1,181,977€1,186,577 |
| 209 | A. LANGE & SÖHNE, Ref. 414.047, 1815 Chronograph “Hampton Court Edition”A unique white gold flyback chronograph with hinged caseback with 100% of proceeds going to The Prince’s TrustWORLD RECORD FOR ANY A. LANGE & SÖHNE | CHF 100,000 – 200,000 | CHF 1,058,500$1,060,723€1,064,851 |
| 232 | PHILIPPE DUFOUR, SimplicityAn extremely rare and fine white gold wristwatch with guilloché dial, Breguet numerals, original certificate and presentation boxWORLD RECORD FOR THE REFERENCE | CHF 350,000 – 700,000 | CHF 1,022,200$1,024,347€1,028,333 |
| 214 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 3974A so far unique, early, extremely important pink gold minute repeating wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moonphases, 24-hour indication, anthracite dial, Breguet numerals and Hagmann case | CHF 300,000 – 600,000 | CHF 961,700$963,720€967,470 |
| 113 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 530, “Monochrome Pink”An extremely rare and well-preserved pink gold oversize chronograph wristwatch with pink dial, the only example known in this configuration | CHF300,000 – 600,000 | CHF 901,200$903,093€906,607 |
| 19 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 5070G-014An important and rare white gold chronograph wristwatch with Salmon dial, certificate of origin and presentation boxWORLD RECORD FOR THE REFERENCE | CHF200,000 – 400,000 | CHF 852,800$854,591€857,917 |
| 141 | GEORGE DANIELS, MilleniumA yellow gold wristwatch with Co-axial escapement, date, correspondence from George Daniels and presentation box, part of a limited edition of 48 piecesWORLD RECORD FOR THE REFERENCE | CHF250,000 – 500,000 | CHF 828,600$830,340€833,572 |
| 161 | ROLEX, Ref. 6264An extraordinarily rare yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with “Paul Newman Lemon” dial, brown “tropical” subsidiary registers and outer track and service papers | CHF 550,000 – 1,100,000 | CHF 816,500$818,215€821,399 |
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, achieving a global auction sale total of $209.3 million in 2021, the most successful year for any auction house in watch auction history.
A selection of our recent record-breaking prices:
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.
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