In its “The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE” appointment (May 11 & 12, 2019), Phillips will present numerous lots with the highlight of the most complicated watch created by master watchmaker George Daniels. With an estimate of no less than CHF 1.5 million, this Grand Complication Pocket Watch is the only timepiece made by Daniels that features an instantaneous perpetual calendar with retrograde date and minute repeater. Sotheby's "Important Watches" will be held on May 12 will present a timepiece that you might have not seen before is the Patek Philippe Reference 531 that was created for Richard Bordenache in 1938 and executed to his design. On May 13, at the "Rare Watches" auction, Christie’s will be offering the extremely rare pink gold Rolex reference 6062 “Stelline” triple calendar with moon phase and the celebrated star dial.
Next May, Geneva will host a number of important auctions of fine timepieces from Christie's, Phillips and Sotheby's.
The number of lots is huge so here we only highlight some of the pieces that attracted our attention and provide you with the links to the detailed on-line catalogue of each auction.
In its “The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE” appointment (May 11 & 12, 2019), Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will present numerous lots with the highlight of the most complicated watch created by master watchmaker George Daniels.
With an estimate of no less than CHF 1.5 million, this Grand Complication Pocket Watch is the only timepiece made by Daniels that features an instantaneous perpetual calendar with retrograde date and minute repeater, both mechanisms to Daniels’ own design.
The layout of the engine-turned dial, the yellow gold case and the gilt movement - all entirely hand made - show the artistry of the maker, combining the majority of the complications incorporated in his earlier watches; moonphase, differential screw mechanism for the power reserve, bimetallic centigrade thermometer, Daniels keyless pendant and bow, Co-axial 1-minute tourbillon, and annual calendar with kidney cam and equation of time indication.
The Grand Complication was retained by Daniels for his personal use and was never sold during his lifetime, further underscoring the special significance of this watch.
Moreover, this extraordinary watch also incorporates the Daniels Co-axial escapement, a feature which adds historical importance to it.
The co-axial escapement, invented by Daniels in 1975, is considered as one of the greatest innovations in horology of the past 250 years. It is a modification of the lever escapement with some features of the detent escapement avoiding the sliding friction of the lever escapement, making lubrication of the pallets theoretically unnecessary and thereby minimizing one of the shortcomings of the traditional lever escapement.
Phillips
Geneva Watch Auction: NINE
11, 12 May 2019, Geneva
Sotheby's "Important Watches" will be held on May 12 and will focus on both vintage and modern horology.
A timepiece that you might have not seen before is the Patek Philippe Reference 531 that was created for Richard Bordenache in 1938 and executed to his design.
Its 33 mm yellow gold case frames a dial, unmistakably Art Deco, that features an enamel inscription stating ‘This timepiece was made by Patek Philippe & Co to the design of Mr Richard Bordenache 1938’.
Born in 1905 Richard Bordenache was a leading figure in Romanian Architecture. Studying in the Romanian School in Rome, he went on to design numerous buildings in Romania following the styles that had influenced him in France and Italy.
This rare timepiece has an estimate of CHF 25,000 - 50,000.
Sotheby’s
Important Watches
12 May 2019, Geneva
On May 13, at the "Rare Watches" auction, Christie’s will be offering 254 watches spanning the early 19th century to the present day.
The top lot of the sale, with an estimate of CHF 1,000,000 to CHF 2,000,000, is the extremely rare pink gold Rolex reference 6062 “Stelline” triple calendar with moon phase and the celebrated star dial. The production for this reference was extremely limited – scholars estimate the number to be around 50 cased in pink gold, however only around 10 featuring this particular star dial.
Introduced at the Basel Fair in 1950, the reference 6062 is one of only two Rolex models from the period to feature a calendar complication with moon phase. The other is the reference 8171 ‘Padellone’. Unlike the ref. 8171, the ref. 6062 was housed in the iconic Rolex ‘Oyster’ case, which protects both movement and dial from moisture and dust. The mid-century Oyster case is 36 mm in diameter.
Another top lot, but in the pocket watch section, is the historically important personal watch of Patek Philippe’s co-founder Jean-Adrien Philippe (1815-1894).
Consigned by his descendants, it features Jean-Adrien Philippe’s famous design for the two-train independent centre seconds movement and is one of the first ever to be made according to Swiss patent no. 1017, dating May 1889 (estimate CHF 50,000-100,000).
Mr. Philippe invented the first mechanism for watches which allowed them to be wound and set by means of a crown rather than a key and was rewarded by a Gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, in 1844. A year later, in 1845, he patented his invention and founded with Antoine de Norbert Patek the watchmaking company Patek Philippe.
Christie’s
Rare Watches
13 May 2019, Geneva
The number of lots is huge so here we only highlight some of the pieces that attracted our attention and provide you with the links to the detailed on-line catalogue of each auction.
In its “The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE” appointment (May 11 & 12, 2019), Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will present numerous lots with the highlight of the most complicated watch created by master watchmaker George Daniels.
With an estimate of no less than CHF 1.5 million, this Grand Complication Pocket Watch is the only timepiece made by Daniels that features an instantaneous perpetual calendar with retrograde date and minute repeater, both mechanisms to Daniels’ own design.
The layout of the engine-turned dial, the yellow gold case and the gilt movement - all entirely hand made - show the artistry of the maker, combining the majority of the complications incorporated in his earlier watches; moonphase, differential screw mechanism for the power reserve, bimetallic centigrade thermometer, Daniels keyless pendant and bow, Co-axial 1-minute tourbillon, and annual calendar with kidney cam and equation of time indication.
The Grand Complication was retained by Daniels for his personal use and was never sold during his lifetime, further underscoring the special significance of this watch.
Moreover, this extraordinary watch also incorporates the Daniels Co-axial escapement, a feature which adds historical importance to it.
The co-axial escapement, invented by Daniels in 1975, is considered as one of the greatest innovations in horology of the past 250 years. It is a modification of the lever escapement with some features of the detent escapement avoiding the sliding friction of the lever escapement, making lubrication of the pallets theoretically unnecessary and thereby minimizing one of the shortcomings of the traditional lever escapement.
Phillips
Geneva Watch Auction: NINE
11, 12 May 2019, Geneva
Sotheby's "Important Watches" will be held on May 12 and will focus on both vintage and modern horology.
A timepiece that you might have not seen before is the Patek Philippe Reference 531 that was created for Richard Bordenache in 1938 and executed to his design.
Its 33 mm yellow gold case frames a dial, unmistakably Art Deco, that features an enamel inscription stating ‘This timepiece was made by Patek Philippe & Co to the design of Mr Richard Bordenache 1938’.
Born in 1905 Richard Bordenache was a leading figure in Romanian Architecture. Studying in the Romanian School in Rome, he went on to design numerous buildings in Romania following the styles that had influenced him in France and Italy.
This rare timepiece has an estimate of CHF 25,000 - 50,000.
Sotheby’s
Important Watches
12 May 2019, Geneva
On May 13, at the "Rare Watches" auction, Christie’s will be offering 254 watches spanning the early 19th century to the present day.
The top lot of the sale, with an estimate of CHF 1,000,000 to CHF 2,000,000, is the extremely rare pink gold Rolex reference 6062 “Stelline” triple calendar with moon phase and the celebrated star dial. The production for this reference was extremely limited – scholars estimate the number to be around 50 cased in pink gold, however only around 10 featuring this particular star dial.
Introduced at the Basel Fair in 1950, the reference 6062 is one of only two Rolex models from the period to feature a calendar complication with moon phase. The other is the reference 8171 ‘Padellone’. Unlike the ref. 8171, the ref. 6062 was housed in the iconic Rolex ‘Oyster’ case, which protects both movement and dial from moisture and dust. The mid-century Oyster case is 36 mm in diameter.
Another top lot, but in the pocket watch section, is the historically important personal watch of Patek Philippe’s co-founder Jean-Adrien Philippe (1815-1894).
Consigned by his descendants, it features Jean-Adrien Philippe’s famous design for the two-train independent centre seconds movement and is one of the first ever to be made according to Swiss patent no. 1017, dating May 1889 (estimate CHF 50,000-100,000).
Mr. Philippe invented the first mechanism for watches which allowed them to be wound and set by means of a crown rather than a key and was rewarded by a Gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, in 1844. A year later, in 1845, he patented his invention and founded with Antoine de Norbert Patek the watchmaking company Patek Philippe.
Christie’s
Rare Watches
13 May 2019, Geneva
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