Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo achieves CHF 38,938,400 / $39,374,510 / € 37,711,840 during The Geneva Watch Auction: XV. Held over two days on 7 and 8 May, the white glove sale far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of CHF 14.6 to 27.1 million. This followed the extraordinary results of The Royal Oak 50th sale on 6 May, which achieved CHF 22.3 million, bringing the weekend total to CHF 61,242,180. The Geneva Watch Auction: XV presented 196 exceptional watches of the highest and most desirable quality. The global watch community participated from across 67 countries, with more than 600 collectors heading to the saleroom at La Réserve Hotel to participate in person, alongside 1,800 bidders competing online.
The star lot of the weekend was the early Patek Philippe perpetual calendar ref. 1518 in pink gold with pink dial, selling to a phone bidder for CHF 3,297,000. The “Pink on Pink” is a watch that only be found at the highest echelons of fine watch collecting. The second star lot of the sale was a most probably unique Rolex ref. 6239, nicknamed "The Crazy Doc", which achieved CHF 1,740,000. This watch is the only known yellow gold reference 6239 with pulsations dial.
Manufactured in 1941, “The Simon Wiesenthal” watch is important not only for its rarity but for its provenance. Once owned by the human rights champion and holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal, it first appeared on the market in 2007 and was consigned to auction by the family of Wiesenthal himself. One of only two Patek Philippe references 1503 with black lacquered dial and Breguet numerals known, it eventually fetched a remarkable CHF 1,361,000, after a fiercely competitive battle between numerous bidders in the saleroom and on the phones.
F. P. Journe watches performed extremely well, with numerous models flying well above their high estimates, including lot 300, the F. P. Journe Octa Zodiaque power reserve, which fetched CHF 804,400. The only example of the Octa Zodiaque in pink gold, it was made for the Children Action Foundation in 2005. The consignor of the watch donated it once again to the same charitable institution, who will benefit from the sale. Phillips will donate all the buyer's premium from the sale of this watch to the same charity.
Finally, numerous impressive results were achieved for prestigious independent makers such as Kari Voutilainen, Christian Klings, Urwerk, MB&F, and De Bethune.
Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe and Middle East and Tiffany To, Watch Specialist and Head of Sale, commented: “The Geneva Watch Auction: XV was intense, exciting and saw furious battles between bidders in the room, over the phones and online. Collectors participated from around the world, with over 2,000 collectors signing up to be part of this extraordinary auction. Once again, collectors’ appetite for rare and collectible timepieces of the highest quality, utmost rarity or of historical relevance and original designs has been demonstrated. All of these elements resulted in yet another record-breaking sale at Phillips.”
Lot 213
Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 “Pink on pink” A pink gold chronograph wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moonphases and pink dial, Estimate CHF 1,200,000-2,400,000. Price Achevied CHF 3,297,000 $ 3,333,926 € 3,193,144
Lot 116
Rolex, Ref. 6239. “The Crazy Doc” A yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with pulsations scale and bracelet, formerly the property of Eric Clapton CBE World record for a reference 6239 in yellow gold, Estimate on request. Price Achevied CHF 1,724,000 $ 1,743,308 € 1,669,694
Lot 212
Patek Philippe Ref. 1503 “The Simon Wiesenthal” A stainless-steel wristwatch with black gloss dial and Breguet numerals, originally owned by Simon Wiesenthal and one of two examples known in this configuration Word record for the reference, Estimate CHF 250,000-500,000. Price Achevied CHF 1,361,000 $ 1,376,243 € 1,318,128
Lot 219
Rolex Ref. 6036, Oyster Chronographe “Gold metal Killy” A yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with triple calendar, luminous dial and bracelet Word record for the reference, Estimate CHF 500,000-1,000,000. Price Achevied CHF 998,000 $ 1,009,177 € 966,563
Lot 115
Patek Philippe, Ref. 5723/1R Nautilus. A pink gold and diamond-set wristwatch with center seconds, date, bracelet, certificate of origin and presentation box, retailed by Tiffany & Co. and the only publicly known example in this configuration. Word record for the model, Estimate CHF 180,000-360,000. Price Achevied CHF 998,000 $ 1,009,177 € 966,563
Lot 215
Patek Philippe Ref. 5980/1400G, Nautilus “The King” A white gold and diamond-set chronograph wristwatch with certificate of origin and presentation box, second example on the auction market Word record for the model, Estimate CHF 500,000-1,000,000. Price Achevied CHF 937,500 $ 948,000 € 907,968
Lot 119
Rolex, Ref. 6241, Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman “John Player Special” A 14K yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with black “Paul Newman” dial, Estimate CHF 700,000-1,400,000. Price Achevied CHF 852,800 $ 862,351 € 825 936
Lot 300
F.P. Journe, Octa Zodiaque, piece unique pink gold automatic wristwatch with date, month and zodiac sign indication, power reserve indication, certificate of authenticity and box, made in 2005 for Children Action and proceeds being donated to Children Action World record for an Octa Zodiaque, Estimate CHF 150,000-300,000. Price Achevied CHF 804,400 $ 813,409 € 779,061
Lot 216
Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 “White Luminous Padellone” A white gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, luminous indexes and hands, original certificate and fitted presentation box, one of two known, Estimate CHF 300,000-500,000. Price Achevied CHF 655,200 $ 662,538 € 634,561
Lot 149
F.P. Journe, Chronomètre Bleu- Byblos A limited edition tantalum wristwatch with open dial and Eastern Arabic numerals number 50 of a 99-piece limited edition. Word record for the model, Estimate CHF 100,000-200,000. Price Achevied CHF 630,000 $ 637,056 € 610,155
