Phillips announces the most valuable watch auction ever held in the United States
Phillips, in association with Bacs & Russo, has published the full catalogue for The New York Watch Auction: XV, which takes place on 5 and 6 December in New York. With a total low estimate above $25 million, it is, according to the auction house, the highest-value watch auction ever held in the United States.
The catalogue, released on 9 November, completes the first highlights Phillips had already announced and brings together 196 lots of vintage, modern and independent watchmaking. It comes a day after the same auction house held in Geneva, on 7 and 8 November, the first live watch auction to exceed $100 million. The public exhibition opens in New York on 2 December, after a world tour.
F.P. Journe leads the way
Lot 10 is F.P. Journe's Tourbillon Souverain "Souscription" No. 13, one of the first 20 watches made in 1999 to finance the launch of the brand. François-Paul Journe sold them by subscription, a model inspired by Abraham-Louis Breguet, and that money gave his independent manufacture its financial foundation. The platinum case measures 38 mm, the yellow gold dial bears the subscription number and the hand-wound movement is calibre 1498. The watch comes with its original presentation box and subscription contract, and is estimated in excess of $1 million.
The brand has two more major lots. A pink gold Tourbillon Souverain with a black mother-of-pearl dial, one of five made for the 50th anniversary of Sincere Fine Watches, is also estimated above $1 million. A Grande et Petite Sonnerie bought in January 2006 and kept ever since by its first owner is estimated at $800,000 to $1.6 million; according to Phillips, fewer than 60 were made between 2006 and 2018. Also on offer is a Piaget Gouvernor Grande Sonnerie, made in collaboration with François-Paul Journe before his brand existed, a commission that helped to fund it.
Patek Philippe, Rolex and Philippe Dufour
Among the vintage watches, Phillips highlights a yellow gold Patek Philippe ref. 1518 from 1950, once owned by the Mexican general and politician Eduardo Hernández Cházaro, estimated at $500,000 to $1 million. Introduced in 1941, the 1518 was the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series. With the same estimate comes a third-series ref. 2499 from 1972, with an integrated gold bracelet that Patek Philippe added in 1988 at the owner's request.
The catalogue also includes a yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6241 with a champagne "Paul Newman" dial ($450,000 to $900,000), Richard Mille RM52-06 Tourbillon "Red Mask" No. 12 of 18 ($400,000 to $800,000) and Philippe Dufour Simplicity No. 60, in white gold, 37 mm, with a hand-guilloché dial, one of 205 examples of the original model ($300,000 to $600,000).
TimeForArt, for the third time
The sale hosts the third edition of TimeForArt, the benefit auction organised with New York's Swiss Institute in support of contemporary art. There are 26 unique pieces, all offered without reserve, and all proceeds go to the Swiss Institute. The lead piece is a Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans with a Grand Feu enamel dial by Anita Porchet: on a palette of black and greys, the enameller reinterprets the engravings of the watchmaker's dials in abstract strokes ($60,000 to $120,000).
"The full catalogue demonstrates the breadth and strength of today's watch market," said Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas, at Phillips, and Isabella Proia, Head of Sale. They stressed that the sale is not built around a single collection and brings together watches consigned by collectors from around the world.
Find out more on the auction house's website.
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