Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is pleased to unveil highlights ahead of The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI. Alongside the recently announced exceptionally rare wristwatches by George Daniels will be an assembly of the finest collectible vintage and contemporary pieces, covering the best of horology across the 20th and 21 centuries. Highlights from the sale will tour to the public in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and London. The preview will open in Geneva on 2 November before the live auction on 5 and 6 November at the Hôtel La Réserve.

Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe & Middle East, and Tiffany To, Head of Sale, jointly said, “The Geneva Watch Auction XVI sees an extraordinary curation of collectible vintage and contemporary pieces that reflect horological history from different brands, periods, styles, complications, countries and price points. We believe that we have on offer the best and most relevant piece from each brand. Our curation process was done with 
extreme passion and enthusiasm for the selected watches, and we hope that our collectors and watch enthusiasts will feel this when going through the auction catalogue. We look forward to opening our public preview on 2 November and welcoming budding enthusiasts and seasoned collectors to enjoy such a rarely seen assembly.”

Patek Philippe

The sale presents an exceptional group of watches by Patek Philippe, led by a historically significant Reference 1518 in pink gold, from the late 1940’s. The reference 1518 was the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph made in series. The majority are available in yellow gold, with pink gold examples rarely appearing on the market. The present example has been in an important private European collection for almost two decades. 

Phillips is proud to present a Reference 530 in steel from 1945. With a 36mm diameter, reference 530 was Patek Philippe’s largest vintage chronograph. This reference was made in very low numbers with even fewer examples known in stainless steel. Adding to its rarity, the watch carries the Hausmann retailer signature on the dial, as well as featuring gold numerals and hands, making it the only steel example known with these features. Phillips is also delighted to offer a Reference 3448 in white gold from 1973. Reference 3448 was launched in the early 1960’s and was Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar with an automatic movement. The watch kept the dial layout of its predecessors, namely the day and month indicated via appertures on the top part of the dial and the date and moonphase at 6 o’clock. White gold models like the present example are extremely rare as only 60 are known in the 20-year production span of the model. 

Other important Patek Phillipe timepieces to be offered include a yellow gold Reference 2499 with black dial. Reference 2499 is most probably one of the most iconic watches of the second half of the 20th century. It replaced the perpetual calendar chronograph reference 1518 in the early 1950’s and introduced pump pushers and a larger case size. The present third series reference 2499 belongs to the supremely rare category of examples with black dial. Only 6 reference 2499 (regardless of series are known) with black dial and the present example is so far the only one to appear on the market whose Extract from the Patek Philippe archives confirms the black dial.

Rolex

A superlative selection of exceptionally rare and coveted Rolex Daytona Cosmograph models with Paul Newman dial will be features. A leading highlight is the Reference 6264 from 1969 in yellow gold “Lemon”. Paul Newman models in gold are extremely rare but ones with the renowned “Lemon” dial featuring a yellow gerné dial, black subdials and white graphics are considered by collectors as true grails, both in terms of collectability and beauty. 

A further highlight is the Reference 6241 from 1969 in yellow gold “Champagne”. Similar to the “Lemon”, the “Champagne” has a creamier dial colour and gilt graphics. 

The Reference 6263 in steel “Oyster Sotto” from 1969 is the most unattainable and sought-after variant of all Paul Newman wristwatches. Scholars estimate that less than 20 examples have appeared on the market. The moniker “Oyster Sotto”, meaning “Oyster Underneath” in Italian, signifies the correct dial configuration of a reference 6263 “Paul Newman” fitted with a black dial. A correct one displays “Rolex Cosmograph Oyster” rather than “Rolex Oyster 
Cosmograph”, the latter of which is the correct configuration of a “Paul Newman” with white dial. “Oyster Sotto” dials were fitted to the earliest 6263s, the “Oyster” designation referring to the model’s water-resistant screw-down pushers. 

Other highlights include the Reference 6239 “Tiffany” from 1969. The present example is one of only three known 
reference 6239 with Paul Newman dial retailed by Tiffany & Co. 

Independents

For many years, Phillips has been a proponent of independent watchmaking and, once again, will offer a wide selection of rare, hard-to-find creations from these incredible artisans.

An exceptional highlight is the Philippe Dufour Simplicity. Every time a Simplicity arrives on the market there is a moment of celebration, but when an example with a case/dial configuration that has never been seen before makes an appearance, it is a chance of a lifetime. The present example in white gold features a slate grey dial, full pink gold Breguet numerals and pink gold hands.

The F.P. Journe Resonance is a signature piece from the famed watchmaker who was the first to create a wristwatch integrating the resonance phenomenon. The present example in platinum is part of the highly coveted examples with a 38mm case, brass movement and yellow gold dial.

Phillips is delighted to offer a Vianney Halter La Resonance Prototype. Presented in March 2022, La Resonance is the enfant terrible’s vision integrating a double stacked balances beating in unison. Not only is the present example the very first of the Halter Resonances to appear on the market, but it is the very prototype that was shown to collectors and the press. 

Charitable Initiatives

This season, Phillips is honoured to be offering two unique timepieces made for charity. A. Lange & Söhne have created a one-of-a-kind version of the 1815 Chronograph to be auctioned in Geneva this November. The proceeds of the unique timepiece, featuring a solid-silver dial and a hand-engraved hinged cuvette, will go to The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity set up by HRH The Prince of Wales. Founded in 1976, The Prince’s Trust supports young people aged 
11 to 30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work, and access job opportunities.

Since it was introduced in 2004, the 1815 Chronograph has stood for the alliance between classic design and progressive technology. Crafted explicitly for this year’s Concours of Elegance, the 1815 Chronograph “Hampton Court Edition” stands out with a unique combination of features: For the first time, a white-gold case meets a black dial with sandstone-coloured numerals and scales. The tachometer scale on the peripheral – which enables the calculation of average speeds – emphasises the historic connection between motor sport and time measurement.

Presented in June 2022, the Zenith X Voutilainen X Phillips 10-piece limited edition platinum Cal 135-O sold out within a matter of minutes. Phillips is delighted to offer an 11th yet unique example but this time cased in Niobium with a lively salmon dial. All proceeds of the sale will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, whose mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.