Highlights from the PHILLIPS Geneva Watch Auction Eight

Phillips Watches has just been back with its eighth edition of its watch sales in Geneva.

This autumn’s auction took place on November 10-11 at the Hôtel La Réserve, with a catalog of 220 lots in both vintage and contemporary timepieces up for grabs.

And there was plenty to get watch enthusiasts excited as the hammer was hovering.

 

A rare François-Paul Journe

One watch up for auction that had informed collectors on the edge of their seats, was an incredibly rare brass F.P. Journe. Known for impeccable rose gold movements in the more modern timepieces, the watchmaker’s earliest pieces are identified by their brass movements.

Back in 1999, Journe didn’t have the cash to create tourbillon timepieces but after eventually securing down payments from 20 friends, he created 20 souverain watches.

Incredibly, one of these stunning pieces went under the hammer, fetching an incredible CHF465,500 – that’s around £363,247 – almost £234,000 over the top estimated price.

 

Audemars Piguet’s rare 1941 offering

Audemars Piguet’s reference 1533 is another extremely rare timepiece that was on offer.

With only 300 of the chronograph wristwatches ever made by the brand between 1930 and 1962, they are extremely hard to find – especially in good condition.

It came to the auction via an Italian, a direct descendant of the original owner, who had stashed away the watch for two decades.

The timepiece has an unusual pink gold dial and is one of only 19 timepieces by the watchmaker during its era that came in a larger size than the typical 32 and 34 mm sizes of vintage watches.

The watch was estimated to sell between CHF 60,000 and CHF 120,000 but achieved CHF384,500 or £300,800.

 

Speedmaster’s 60th birthday collection

Phillips collected the original watches that make up the 1957 collection Omega reissued in 2017, to mark the big occasion. These included the ref. CK 2913 Seamaster 300, ref. CK 2914 Railmaster and ref. CK 2915 Speedmaster.

However, there was a black sheep in the midst – the CK 2990 Ranchero – that was offered by the brand in 1959 as an alternative to the trio of timepieces and was in production for a very limited period.

Like all Omega watches of the time, they were worn without reverence and, so hardly any are ever found in good condition.

So when we discovered that there were four of these references were going to be on show at the same auction, it was quite unbelievable.

The quartet, all with broad arrow hands, sold for CHF313,750 (£245,227) in total – CK 2915 at CHF 200,000, the CK 2913 Seamaster at CHF 50,000, the CK 2914 Railmaster at CHF 47,500 and the CK 2990 Ranchero at CHF 16,250.

 

Some other rare finds

This very fine, rare and incredibly well-preserved Oyster Chronograph Antimagnetic, “Jean-Claude Killy” timepiece in stainless steel with triple calendar chronograph wristwatch and bracelet fetched CHF 702,500 or £549,483.

While this stunning and rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch, complete with bracelet, guarantee and presentation box went for CHF35,000 – that’s around £27,000 – £6,000 over the estimated price.

The circa 1998 watch which became a cult classic and gathered an immediate waiting list at Rolex retailers, was known as the U series and this particular watch retailed at Yung Dah Watch co in Taiwan.

 

If you’re after something rare or discontinued, check out our full range at www.luxewatches.co.uk. Whether you’re a Rolex, Omega or other luxury brand fan, we can help you find your perfect timepiece.