It will be fascinating to see how this spring’s auction season unfolds after average prices fell by almost 30% at the autumn events across Geneva, London, New York and Hong Kong.
Do collectors stick or twist when it comes to selling watches, and will buyers believe now is the time to grab a — relative — bargain.
Much will depend on the quality and rarity of what is consigned to auction, and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is keen to highlight hard-to-find watches at this month’s online-only Geneva Sessions II sale including a factory sealed Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, Ref. 5970P-001.
Attention will also be trained on a Daniel Roth Monopusher Chronograph after LVMH announced last week that it is launching watches under the revered independent watchmaker’s name, a move that could boost demand for his original watches.
Also among the 50 lots are limited production pieces from F.P. Journe, Czapek, A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Rolex.
Extra effort has been put into the presentation and marketing of the Geneva Sessions II online auction by Phillips; another sign that watches will not just smash pre-sale estimates on their own.
”We wanted to have an online sale very different to what has been done before in terms of presentation of the watches, with a very artistic approach to the photography and videography, as well as the cataloguing,” say Alexandre Ghotbi, head of watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East, and Tiffany To, head of sale, Geneva.
Online registration for the Geneva Sessions II auction is open now and bidding runs from March 9 to 16.
Highlights From Geneva Online Auction II (descriptions by Phillips)
F.P. Journe, Tourbillon Souverain, TN
F.P. Journe originally introduced his inaugural Tourbillon Souverain in 1999, featuring a game-changing remontoire system.
His concept was brought to a whole new level with the innovative addition of a deadbeat seconds in 2003, resulting in the Tourbillon Souverain TN Remontoire d’Egalité avec Seconde Morte.
The present example is an early-production example from 2004 featuring the rare combination of a 40mm platinum case with an 18k pink-gold dial and movement.
Estimate: CHF 150,000-300,000
Patek Philippe, Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, Ref. 5970P-001, Factory Seal
The reference 5970 was Patek Philippe’s final perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch series to feature a Lemania base calibre 2310.
Fresh to market, factory sealed, and accompanied by its original accessories, the present example was crafted in 2010, the reference’s final year of production, before the replacement ref. 5270 was introduced in 2011 with Patek Philippe’s in-house movement.
Estimate: CHF 120,000-240,000
Daniel Roth Monopusher Chronograph
The importance of Daniel Roth cannot be underscored enough. After working at Audemars Piguet and Breguet, he created his eponymous brand in 1987 and is considered one of the earliest modern independent watchmakers.
Launched in the early 1990s, this monopusher chronograph is fitted with a vintage Lemania ébauche from the 1930s. Only 36 were made in yellow gold like the present example.
Estimate: CHF 20,000-40,000
Rolex Daytona platinum with diamond indexes
Launched at Baselworld 2013, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 marked a milestone for the firm and the famed and iconic model as it was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Daytona.
It was the first Daytona to use a platinum case as well as the first to feature the company’s proprietary Cerachrom alloy for the bezel material.
The present watch is an incredibly exclusive version, fitted with baguette diamond indexes on the ice blue dial and all its original accessories such as guarantee, product literature, and presentation box.
Estimate: CHF 70,000-140,000
Czapek & Cie., Antarctique Passage de Drake, Roaring Forties
The first Czapek & Cie. to appear at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, this special edition Antarctique sport watch is part of a limited run of 40 watches to feature a grey “Roaring Forties” dial.
Introduced in 2020, the Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake Roaring Twenties borrows its sport-chic case design from the Antarctique Terre Adélie line.
Estimate: CHF 10,000-20,000
