Phillips eyes up stellar November sale with star lots in abundance
The next watch sale from Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo — The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV — is coming up on November 7–8, and some key highlights have been teased.
Taking place at the Hotel President in Geneva the 220-lot sale follows a successful spring period for the auction house, when it saw global watch sales cross the $235 million mark.
One headline lot is a Patek Philippe Ref. 1436 Split-Seconds Chronograph (1945), which comes with an estimate of CHF 2,000,000–CHF 4,000,000. This stainless steel watch is exceptionally rare, representing one of only two known steel examples to retain their original case-and-dial configuration.
Another lot that will grab the attention of collectors is another Patek Philippe, this time a Ref. 2497 (1953), estimated at CHF 250,000–CHF 500,000. This yellow gold perpetual calendar with centre seconds features a first-series dial stamped with the signature of Manhattan retailer Gumbiner — the only known Ref. 2497 with this retailer signature.
Moving onto The Crown, a Rolex Ref. 6062 ‘Stelline’ (Circa 1952) comes with a pre-sale estimate of CHF 600,000–CHF 1,200,000. Coming directly from its original owner in Japan, this yellow gold triple-calendar moonphase stands as one of the best-preserved ‘Stelline’ examples of recent years.
Another Rolex — a Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6241 “John Player Special” (Circa 1969) — has been given an estimate of CHF 800,000–CHF 1,600,000. It is a rare 14k yellow gold American-market variant that features a black ‘Paul Newman’ dial and an inner lug inventory number pointing to a retail connection with Van Cleef & Arpels.
Independents are also well-represented, with the catalogue including: two rare F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance wristwatches (built for the Tokyo boutique and retailer Les Ambassadeurs); Ferdinand Berthoud’s Marine Chronometer No. 46 from 1790; a unique Richard Miklosch flying tourbillon pocket watch; and custom pieces by independent watchmakers Roger Smith and Kari Voutilainen.
These highlights and others will be embarking on a global preview tour ahead of the Geneva sale, including New York on October 14–16 and London on October 20–21.
