Jean claude biver patek philippe collection 1518 2499 1579 and 96hu

Jean-Claude Biver presents his personal watch collection at Phillips’ London auction house

Exhibition features notable examples from brands that are closely associated with Mr Biver’s career including Blancpain, Omega, Hublot, Tag Heuer and Zenith along with prized pieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex and others.

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo in London is hosting an exhibition of the private watch collection of Jean-Claude Biver, non-executive chairman of LVMH Group Watch Division.

The event, titled Jean-Claude Biver: A Retrospective. Share, Respect, Forgive, has been on a world tour since November last year, and has already touched down in Geneva, Hong Kong and New York.

London gets its chance to see the watches and meet the man during the week of February 24 to 28.

It features notable examples from brands that are closely associated with Mr Biver’s career of more than four decades in the Swiss watch industry including Blancpain, Omega, Hublot, Tag Heuer and Zenith.

But his tastes strayed into rival camps, with pieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex and independents like Philippe Dufour and Rexhep Rexhepi finding their way into his collection.

“Having celebrated 70 years of which 45 in the watch industry, I am delighted to share with the lovers of horology a unique exhibition of my passion for brands, watches and moments which are today an unforgettable part of my career and my life,” Mr Biver says.

Aurel Bacs, senior consultant Bacs & Russo and James Marks, international specialist and joint exhibition curators at Philips, add: “Jean-Claude Biver is a larger-than-life man and one of only a small handful of visionaries in the Swiss watch industry who must be credited for having brought true innovation, created thousands of jobs and likely one of the best ambassadors the world of horology ever had. We are incredibly honored to call him a friend and be entrusted with this unique and largely unseen selection of highlights from his personal watch collection, spanning a century of watchmaking and many of the rarest brands, most fascinating complications and, very importantly, personal watches that marked his 45-year long distinguished career. We are very much looking forward to welcoming enthusiasts around the globe in the coming months on three continents where Jean-Claude Biver will personally be present and engage with collectors during panel discussions and lectures.”

The exhibition is open to the public and the entry is free.

 

Hublot bigger bang chronograph tourbillon
Hublot Bigger Bang Chronograph Tourbillon.
Blancpain repetition minutes lr
Blancpain Repetition Minutes.
Audemars piguet royal oak 5402 steel lr
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402 in steel.
Omega constellation in yellow gold given to jcb for his communion
Omega Constellation in yellow gold given to JCB for his communion
Patek philippe perpetual calendar chronograph reference 1518 in pink gold with pink dial
Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph Reference 1518 in pink gold with pink dial
Patek philippe perpetual calendar chronograph reference 2499 in yellow gold
Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph Reference 2499 in yellow gold
Patek philippe reference 96hu worldtime prototype
Patek Philippe Reference 96HU worldtime prototype.
Patek philippe reference 1579 in platinum
Patek Philippe Reference 1579 in platinum.
Patek philippe reference 5106j made for only watch
Patek Philippe Reference 5106J made for Only Watch.
Philippe dufour simplicity in rose gold
Philippe Dufour Simplicity in rose gold
Rexhep rexhepi chronometre contemporain offered by the hour lounge
Rexhep Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporain offered by The Hour Lounge.

 

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3 Comments

  1. why would he be selling them? he surely doesn’t need the money. his move surprises me since he always propagated the emotional value of a Swiss watch.

  2. The watches are not for sale, they are part of a world exhibition tour that just happens to be touching down at Phillips auction house in London.

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