Records tumble at Phillips auction in New York
The Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo sale at the weekend became the most successful watch auction in US history.
All lots sold at the June 13–14 ‘The New York Watch Auction: XIV,’ with the total sale amount of $75.8 million more than doubling its high estimate.
A remarkable 16 timepieces crossed the million-dollar threshold, with independents punching well above their weight.
A rare F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Résonance ‘Souscription, No. 007’ platinum and pink gold piece sold for $13.9 million after a nine-minute bidding battle, setting the world record for any independent watchmaker and any 21st-century watch at auction, while securing its place as top lot at the sale.
Another independent — a Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph No. 1 — achieved a world record for the watchmaker at $1.8 million against a $120,000 low estimate.
Meanwhile, a Patek Philippe ref. 5004G ‘Eric Clapton’ white gold split-seconds perpetual calendar chronograph, which was commissioned by Clapton himself, surged past its $700,000 estimate to hit $5.2 million.
Another Patek Philippe — a rare ref. 1518 1948 perpetual calendar chronograph cased in pink gold — fetched nearly $4 million.
