Auction The XVIII edition of the Philips Auction concluded with a record number of Patek Philippe watches

Philips, in cooperation with Pax & Rousseau, announced the conclusion of the 18th Geneva Watch Auction today, which took place on November 3 and 4 at La Réserve Genève. The auction fetched 39 million Swiss francs, double the pre-sale estimate, and all the watches were sold, approximately 180 pieces in total, with the exception of one piece. This marks the first time that a watch has not been sold at a Phillips auction. Auction sales continued to rise for the third year in a row. 

The auction witnessed a large attendance, with an additional 1,500 people following the auction proceedings online. In this article, we'll explore the highlights and surprises of this remarkable event, from iconic models like the 6062 and 3700 to vintage chronographs. We'll unveil the watches that exceeded expectations and those that have captivating stories to tell, all of which encapsulate the essence of craftsmanship and time.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Platinum watch, Ref. 3700/1 “Jumbo” 

hile the highest selling price was for the Patek Philippe Nautilus Platinum watch, Ref. 3700/1 “Jumbo,” which amounted to 2,540,500 Swiss francs, equivalent to 10,400,000 UAE dirhams.

What increases the rarity of the current piece is the “Gübelin” signature on the dial. Founded in 1855, Swiss retailer Gübelin is known today as the destination for exceptional jewelry and luxury watches in the world. Combined with the non-diamond bezel, it makes the current watch quite unique in its appearance and is the only one known in this configuration.

Rolex Ref.6062
The reference 6062 was exceptional among Rolex watches in 1950, the year it debuted. The triple calendar made of precious metal with moon phases clearly stood out from the stainless-steel watches. It can rightfully be considered an early foray into the luxury watch market for Rolex. Were postwar consumers ready to embrace the expensive and elegant? Rolex created the 6062 to find out.

The extremely rare Rolex watch, Ref. 6062, was sold for a record amount of 2,117,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to 8,670,000 UAE dirhams.

Patek Philippe Ref.2499 “First Series”

Lot 2499, one of the rarest Patek watches, was only produced for less than a decade in the 1950s. What distinguishes it is the square impellers instead of the circular ones that appear in all other series.

Patek Philippe watch Ref.2499 “First Series” 2,104,900 Swiss francs, equivalent to 8,670,000 UAE dirhams.

George Daniels Platinum 

For enthusiasts and collectors, any George Daniels watch is a masterpiece worth owning. Throughout his life, he did not make many watches, as Dr. George Daniels is considered one of the best watchmakers of the twentieth century and a visionary icon in the British watch industry.

 It is the second “George Daniels Platinum” watch to grace the auction market, as the first was sold by Phillips. New York in June 2022 for $2,389,500. For your information, it is only one of four pieces. this watch sold for1,143,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to 4,680,000 UAE dirhams.

 F.P. Journe Sonnerie Souverain

Amazing in more ways than one. It is the first and only known Sonnerie Sovereign watch with a black dial to grace the auction market. The watch originally had a blue dial, but the discerning customer requested a black dial from the Journe Men, and the result is before us. 

F.P. Journe watch Sonnerie Sovereign, priced at 1,079,500 Swiss francs, equivalent to 4,420,000 UAE dirhams.

MB&F X Alain Silberstein Horological Machine 2.2 "Chocolate Box

Representing MB&F unique watchmaking philosophy, the HM2 caliber is the world's first mechanical movement to offer an instantaneous jumping hour and retrograde minutes concentric with the date window. 

This particular watch is considered the rarest among the “Horological Machine 2.2” watches because it is a unique piece that is coated with a chocolate colored PVD layer while the rest of the pieces are black, which explains its nickname “Chocolate Box.”

 It was sold for a price that far exceeded expectations, 304,800 Swiss francs, equivalent to 1,250,00 UAE dirhams.

Rolex Cosmograph "Cherry Logo" 6264

The reference 6264 was introduced in the late 1960s and was the last Rolex Daytona model to feature round “pump” style chronograph pushers. 6264 is among the rarest Daytona watches as each watch took approximately three years to produce.

The current watch is one of the rarest versions of a Cosmograph watch to ever grace the auction market, and it is a stunning sight. Featuring a 'cherry logo' dial, it is one of the few known examples of the reference 6264 with a 14k yellow gold case. Its most notable feature is the word “Daytona” printed in red at the six o’clock position, a feature not often seen in the early 1970s. This copy was sold for 685,800 Swiss francs, equivalent to 2,800,000 UAE dirhams.

Breguet 3237

The Reference 3237 was in production for most of the 1990s, and had gained a reputation for its craftsmanship and beauty, but this watch is a unique piece, if not the only one currently known in the watch community, as the lapis lazuli gemstone was used, a material rarely used by watch companies due to its rarity. It is difficult to work on, making this watch the only known example of the 3237 version to date.

The minute and hour tracks are immediately apparent even at a glance, printed in silver over solid lapis lazuli. The price of the watch reached ten times what was expected, as it was sold for 146,050 Swiss francs, equivalent to 598,000 UAE dirhams.

De Bethune 28 Tourbillon "Kind of Blue"

The DB28 Tourbillon Kind of Blue is one of De Bethune flagship designs. Released in 2016, the watch features a stunning blued titanium case and movement with the brand's signature delta-shaped bridge decorated with microscopic stars applied in white gold. The watch features rose gold arrow hands, while the back bezel and clasp are made of rose gold.

The watch features a 30-second tourbillon, which is the lightest in the world, weighing 0.20 grams and consisting of 63 parts. For your information, 8 pieces were manufactured.

 It was sold for 203,200 Swiss francs, equivalent to 830,000 UAE dirhams.

Please be aware that the prices provided include both the final prices of the watches and the auction commission.

For more information, please visit the official Phillips Auction website.