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Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Announces Further Highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction.

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo reveals additional highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction: XII, further to the recent announcement of the Patek Philippe reference 2523/1 world time in pink gold with guilloché dial, the top lot of the upcoming November sale. Taking place at Hôtel La Réserve, Geneva on November 6-7, the double evening sale will be followed by Retrospective: 2000 - 2020, a themed auction curated by Phillips x Blackbird to be held on November 8, 2020.

Phillips has curated a dynamic selection of watches spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, demonstrating the savoir-faire, technical and design prowess of the watch industry. These watches are united in their rarity, state of preservation and relevance. The selection is led by a series of pieces from a tightly curated private collection and hail from power houses such as Patek Philippe and Rolex.

“Our selection of watches in The Geneva Watch Auction: XII is a tribute to 20th and 21st century horology," commented Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant of Bacs & Russo and Alex Ghotbi, Head of Watches Continental Europe & Middle East. "The wide selection covers all periods, styles and prices with two common denominators: the quality of the watches and our passion for them. We are also delighted to have watches from two of the world’s leading collectors, one who has consigned close to 30 astounding pieces and that we have dubbed “Mr. Green” and another, a Patek Philippe reference 2499 2nd Series from the private collection of renowned scholar John Goldberger.”

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“It has been a pleasure collaborating with the team at Phillips on Retrospective: 2000 - 2020, and an honour to curate a second auction after the successes of SPORTS," said Mr. TK Mak, Founder and Chairman of Blackbird Automotive Group. "It has been fascinating to reflect on the landmark watches that have emerged, and the cultural environment that shaped them, over the past 20 years. We have worked hard to create a catalogue that we expect will become a resource on contemporary horology for many in years to come, providing perspective to the pieces on offer.”

Highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction: XII, November 6 & 7

A Private Collection
The sale presents a group of close to 30 timepieces from the private collection of one of the world’s greatest collectors and scholars, with an astute eye for detail and uncompromising desire for quality. Included in this collection is an eclectic choice of Patek Philippe, Omega, Longines and Rolex watches, among others. The star lot of this collection is an incredibly well-preserved and most probably Rolex reference 8171 in stainless steel (estimate CHF 300,000-600,000).

Patek Philippe
The fresh to market timepieces from Patek Philippe cover a wide range of complications, styles and periods. From a reference 130 in steel with sector dial from 1939 originally sold in France and being offered by a French family (estimate CHF 250,000-450,000), to an extremely rare reference 3974 minute repeater with perpetual calendar in platinum from 2001 with an opaline dial as well as a black dial with Breguet numerals (estimate CHF 700,000-1,4000,000).  

Going back in time to vintage Patek Philippe complications, Phillips has the pleasure of offering a very well preserved reference 1518 in yellow gold from the 1940s, coming from an important private collection this reference was launched in 1941 and was the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph made in series (estimate CHF 250,000-450,000). The successor to the reference 1518 was the reference 2499, launched in 1951 it features a larger 37.5mm case and more “sporty” pump pushers.

Phillips also offers two reference 2499’s in the sale. The first: a second series from the collection of one of the collectors and scholars: John Goldberger (estimate CHF 700,000-1,200,000), the second: a third series retailed by famed Swiss retailer Bayer and one of only four known with the Beyer signature. The watch is in an incredible state of preservation and comes with its original box, certificate and even invoice (estimate CHF 400,000-800,000).

Rolex
The selection of Rolex models will include specimens rarely seen on the market. A well-preserved reference 6200 “Big Crown”, one of Rolex’s first Submariner models. A piece with the sought after 3, 6, 9 “Explorer dial”, this example comes with a chocolate “tropical dial” (estimate CHF 400,000-800,000). The desire for gold Daytonas with Paul Newman dials is as strong as ever and Phillips will be offering a very well-preserved reference 6241 “John Player Special” in 14k yellow gold (estimate CHF 600,000-1,200,000).

Some of the finest vintage and modern watches available anywhere in the world in terms of quality and condition will also be offered, including elegant dress, sports, and complicated watches by prestigious collectors’ brands such as Patek Philippe and Rolex, A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Omega, IWC, Longines and Breguet, to name only a few.

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Highlights from Retrospective: 2000 - 2020, November 8

Organised with Blackbird, Retrospective: 2000 - 2020 showcases the first twenty years of this millennium and presents some of the most relevant and important watches made in the past two decades.

Patek Philippe
To be offered for the first time at auction is a possibly unique pink gold reference 5531 world time minute repeater with cloisonné enamel dial representing the Geneva lake, with a gold bracelet (estimate CHF 500,000-1,000,000).

F.P. Journe
François-Paul Journe’s creations have been garnering increasing attention from the collecting community. The six timepieces presented in this sale will include his incredible Grande et Petite Sonnerie in steel (estimate CHF 300,000 - 600,000), a Tourbillon Souverain “Black Label” that was available only to existing owners of F.P. Journe watches (estimate CHF 80,000-160,000), and his signature Resonance in 38mm platinum case with brass movement (estimate CF 50,000-100,000).

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Zenith
Zenith has once again trusted Phillips with the sale of a one-off creation, the Lupin The Third chronograph, directly reproducing the dial of a Zenith worn in the celebrated Japanese manga. Proceeds from the sale will benefitto the charity Zoé4Life, a registered non-profit organisation, recognised as a public service utility whose mission is to support research, provide financial support to families in need, support kids during their treatments and raise awareness about childhood cancer.

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