PHILLIPS ANNOUNCES HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENEVA WATCH AUCTION: XXIV

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will open its Fall 2026 live auction season in Geneva on 7 and 8 November with The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV, bringing together more than 220 timepieces. The sale follows a record-breaking spring season for Phillips Watches, when its Geneva, Hong Kong and New York sales realized more than US$235 million, with three watches selling above US$10 million. Phillips today unveils the first eleven highlights, led by an exceptionally rare Patek Philippe Ref. 1436 split-seconds chronograph in stainless steel, estimated at CHF 2,000,000–4,000,000.

Lot 95 | PATEK PHILIPPE | Ref. 1436, Stainless Steel, 1945 — Estimate: CHF 2,000,000–4,000,000. Launched in 1938 as Patek Philippe's first serially produced split-seconds chronograph, the Ref. 1436 had a total production of approximately 140 examples over some 33 years. Only two stainless steel examples are currently known to retain their original steel cases and dials, each in a different configuration. Made in 1945, this watch features a silvered dial with applied steel hour markers and a tachymeter scale, with the crown itself acting as the split-seconds pusher. An Extract from the Archives confirms its production in 1945 and sale in 1949.

Lot 16 | PATEK PHILIPPE | Ref. 2497, Retailed by Gumbiner, 18k Yellow Gold, 1953 — Estimate: CHF 250,000–500,000. Introduced alongside the perpetual calendar chronograph Ref. 2499, the Ref. 2497 paired a perpetual calendar with centre seconds in a larger, more robust case. This well-preserved 1953 example in a Wenger case stands out for its first-series dial bearing the signature of Manhattan retailer Gumbiner — the only known Ref. 2497 with the retailer's name, unusually positioned between the calendar apertures and the Patek Philippe signature.

Lot 129 | ROLEX | Ref. 6062 "Stelline," 18k Yellow Gold, Circa 1952 — Estimate: CHF 600,000–1,200,000. Recently discovered in Japan and consigned directly by its original owner, this Ref. 6062 ranks among the best-preserved yellow gold examples to have surfaced in recent years. Fitted with the highly prized "Stelline" dial, named for its eight star-shaped hour markers, it combines a triple calendar and moon-phase display within a waterproof Oyster case. The dial shows barely any signs of aging, retaining inky blue outer-calendar numerals, and the original Super Oyster crown remains in place.

Lot 20 | ROLEX | Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6241 "John Player Special," 14k Yellow Gold, Circa 1969 — Estimate: CHF 800,000–1,600,000. Among the rarest configurations of the manual-winding Daytona, the "John Player Special" pairs a yellow gold case with the contrasting black "Paul Newman" dial that gave the watch its nickname. This example is rarer still in 14k yellow gold, a configuration associated with the American market, and its bracelet is stamped "V.C.A," with an inventory number beneath the lug most likely corresponding to Van Cleef & Arpels.

Lot 7 | F.P. JOURNE | Chronomètre à Résonance "Régence," Platinum, 2002 — Estimate: CHF 1,000,000–2,000,000. Made for Swiss retailer Les Ambassadeurs, this early Chronomètre à Résonance was intended as part of a five-watch series, but only three hand-engraved "Régence à Losange" dials were produced and just two watches delivered. No. 212/02, the only one with a shiny pink gold dial, pairs a 38mm platinum case with the early brass caliber 1499. It was exhibited by F.P. Journe in Geneva in 2020 for the model's 20th anniversary.

Lot 161 | F.P. JOURNE | Chronomètre à Résonance Tokyo Boutique, Titanium, 2007 — Estimate: CHF 400,000–800,000. Created for the second anniversary of F.P. Journe's Tokyo boutique, this is No. 2 of an edition of just 12 watches. Its 40mm titanium case and ruthenium-coated dial are set against pink gold crowns and hands — a combination found only on this anniversary series. Inside is the hand-wound pink gold caliber 1499.2 with two balances exploiting the resonance phenomenon, and this is thought to be only the second example from the Tokyo edition to appear at auction.

Lot 32 | ROGER SMITH | Series 1, 18k White and Pink Gold Unique Piece, 2020 — Estimate: CHF 300,000–600,000. Fresh to the auction market, this unique Series 1 offers a markedly different interpretation of Roger Smith's time-only wristwatch: a white gold case with pink gold bezel and crown, and an anthracite engine-turned dial with pink gold Eastern Arabic numerals and hands. Smith has made four watches with mixed-metal cases; this is the only one combining white and pink gold. Powered by his manually wound movement incorporating the co-axial escapement developed by his mentor George Daniels, it is accompanied by a second dial and hand set, with documentation confirming it as a unique piece.

Lot 216 | VOUTILAINEN | Vingt-8 Inversé, Tantalum Unique Piece, 2020 — Estimate: CHF 200,000–400,000. Introduced in 2019, the Vingt-8 Inversé turned Kari Voutilainen's caliber 28 architecture around, placing much of the movement normally seen through the display back on the dial side; the model received the Men's Watch Prize at the 2019 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Only 26 were produced before the reference was discontinued. This tantalum example was commissioned by its original owner after the initial allocation had been filled, with uniquely specified ring and hand colours, and the movement is engraved "1/1."

Lot 205 | PATEK PHILIPPE | World Time Ref. 605HU, Cloisonné Enamel Dial, 18k Yellow Gold, 1950 — Estimate: CHF 300,000–600,000. Patek Philippe's world-time pocket watch was offered predominantly with metal dials and, far more rarely, cloisonné enamel dials depicting maps. A little over a dozen yellow gold examples with cloisonné enamel dials are known, including just five depicting North America and a palm tree. This example's enamel disc bears both the full movement number and the "LC" monogram of Louis Cottier, inventor of the world-time system, who supervised production and handmade the hands.

Lot 61 | RICHARD MIKLOSCH | Flying Tourbillon Pocket Watch, Silver, Circa 1985 — Estimate: CHF 300,000–600,000. A math teacher who taught himself horology in his spare time and manufactured almost every component himself, Miklosch went on to influence watchmakers including Kari Voutilainen. Only 14 Miklosch pocket watches are known, each different. This most probably unique example combines a flying tourbillon with an Earnshaw-type detent escapement and a regulator-style grainé dial; his tourbillon carriages alone could take four to five months to construct, followed by another month of finishing.

Lot 91 | FERDINAND BERTHOUD | La Montre à Longitude Verticale No. 46, Brass, 1790 — Estimate: CHF 100,000–200,000. Constructed by Berthoud's pupil Vincent Martin to his specifications, this chronometer was designed to be versatile: its detachable gimballed mounting allowed use at sea, while it could also serve as a portable or desk timekeeper. Its technical features include a detached pivoted detent escapement, fusée with maintaining power, anti-friction rollers and Berthoud's steel-and-copper temperature-compensation system. The opening 22 pages of Berthoud's Traité des Montres à Longitudes (1792) are devoted to this chronometer; leather-bound copies of both his works accompany the lot.

The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV takes place on 7 and 8 November 2026 at the Hotel President, Quai Wilson 47, Geneva, with the Geneva preview from 4 to 7 November. The global highlights tour visits Dubai (1–3 October), New York (14–16 October), Singapore (16–17 October, The St. Regis) and Hong Kong (20–22 October, 5/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street). More star lots will be announced in the coming weeks.

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