Phillips
Auction season is upon us—and there are some pretty exceptional ones in store. For Phillips, things will get exciting in Geneva in just a few weeks with the Watch Auction: XIX featuring—among many stunning lots—selections from the Guido Mondani Collection.
Mondani is a longtime collector who took his passion for watches to the next level in 1992 when he established a publishing house dedicated to horological scholarship with a specific focus on vintage Rolex. Mondani last auctioned a portion of his personal collection back in 2006, which resulted in record-breaking sales, marking the two most expensive Rolex wristwatches ever sold at the time. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the upcoming auction on May 11 and 12.
Alongside Mondani’s selection of 44 pieces, the Geneva Watch Auction: XIX will showcase more than 175 other extraordinary timepieces from powerhouse brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex to independents like F.P. Journe and Rexhep Rexhepi. Here, we highlight ten standout lots across the sale.
-
Lot 55: Patek Philippe Two-Crown World Time, Ore del Mondo Doppia Corona Ref. 2523/1
Image Credit: Phillips While Mondani’s collection takes center stage at the upcoming Geneva Watch Auction: XIX, the top lot of the sale is this astoundingly well-preserved, highly important, and supremely scarce yellow gold world timer from Patek. The model notably features two crowns on either side of the case—one at the traditional three o’clock and the other opposite at nine. This reference hails from 1960 but reached grail status back in 1989 when an example was selected as the cover lot of the “Art of Patek Philippe” auction. In addition to the impressive technical design of this piece, artistic craft is at the core with a combination of guilloche and enameling techniques. This example is just one of and estimated 29 to 36 pieces ever produced, with three residing in the Patek Philippe museum.
ESTIMATE $1,310,000-2,620,000
-
Lot 13: Rolex Ref. 6269
Image Credit: Phillips The showstopper from Mondani’s collection is this reference 6269 from Rolex. This neo-vintage model hails from 1985 and features a lavish diamond-set dial and bezel with a yellow gold build. Watches like this ref. 6269 came from Rolex during an era when the brand began adorning its tool watches with precious gems for its most exclusive and demanding clientele, ranging from Sultans in the Middle East to industry titans. This model is believed to be just one of approximately 30 examples ever produced.
ESTIMATE $656,000-1,310,000
-
Lot 216: Rolex “Paul Newman” Cosmograph Daytona “John Player Special” Ref. 6241
Image Credit: Phillips Among watch collectors, no combination of words carries quite the cache as “Rolex Paul Newman Cosmograph Daytona.” This designation has become one of the most highly coveted for modern enthusiasts. Add in “John Player Special” and “reference 6241,” and you have one of the rarest and most highly sought after examples of the iconic Daytona ever produced. Here, we have an attractive example in 14-karat yellow gold with a contrasting black dial and bezel from 1969.
ESTIMATE $547,000-1,090,000
-
Lot 60: F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Resonance “Pre-Souscription”
Image Credit: Phillips The history of F.P. Journe’s Chronomètre à Résonance is complex, so for those who know, we have an exciting example coming up for sale at the Geneva Watch Auction: XIX. Only 30-40 examples of the Pre-Souscription watches with suffix /00R, like the present lot up for grabs, were produced. These were ordered before the Souscription Resonances and bear the shallow engravings and shiny dials typical of the earliest references R and T. This particular watch is the last example known of the Pre-Souscription series, and could reach seven figures.
ESTIMATE $437,000-875,000
-
Lot 117: Rolex Oyster Chronograph “Jean Claude Killy” Ref. 6036
Image Credit: Phillips Here, we have another outstanding example of a highly coveted vintage Rolex from the personal collection of Guido Mondani. Named after champion sportsman and Rolex ambassador Jean-Claude Killy, the ‘Killy’ is the only Rolex Oyster model to feature a full calendar and chronograph complication. The standard model was produced in traditional stainless steel. However, certain variations were made in precious metals for esteemed clients and for the Italian market, such as this example in rose gold. Alongside the watch itself, the lot includes historical literature on the piece from Mondani himself.
ESTIMATE $437,000-875,000
-
Lot 143: Patek Philippe “Padellone” Ref. 3448
Image Credit: Phillips Among the wide array of highly sought after models from Patek’s catalog the “Padellone” has remained a bit of a “sleeper” for years. However, with the increased interest in automatic perpetual calendars and vintage Pateks, the Padellone is beginning to receive this recognition it well deserves. This particular example is notable for its very rare 18-karat white gold construction, which makes up only 10% of the total production. In addition, this model from 1972 is unique for its “inverted date” ring where the lower part of the ring features upside down numerals.
ESTIMATE $437,000-875,000
-
Lot 145: Patek Philippe Ref. 1518
Image Credit: Phillips The Patek Philippe reference 1518 marked the world’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch made in a series when it first launched back in 1941. This feat largely contributed to Patek solidifying its position as a leader in the industry, which continues to this day. With this lot, you have the opportunity to own an important piece of horological history. It’s one of only 281 total examples ever produced and one of just 215 in yellow gold.
ESTIMATE $437,000-875,000
-
Lot 219: Rolex “La Caravelle” Ref. 6102
Image Credit: Phillips Those with a love of exceptional enamel work, this one is for you. Here, we have an exquisite example of a beautifully executed cloisonne enamel dial depicting a caravel, a small, fast Spanish or Portuguese sailing ship of the 15th–17th centuries. This work was done by one of Geneva’s most acclaimed enamellers, Margueritte Koch, who famously produced enamel dials for The Crown that have become highly sought after among discerning collectors.
ESTIMATE $437,000-875,000
-
Lot 58: Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain Ref. RRCC1
Image Credit: Phillips Enamel work can appear most striking when depicting a scene and employing a vast array of colors. However, the technique required to achieve a crisp and uniform single color with enamel—particularly stark colors like black and white—is in fact one of the most difficult and impressive to achieve. Enter the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain Ref. RRCC1, featuring a white Grand Feu enamel dial framed in a platinum build. This rare timepiece is one of just 25 numbered pieces, bearing the number three. The model’s technical prowess is equally impressive with the manual caliber RR-01. It boasts beautiful architecture and unusual symmetry while incorporating both a hacking-second and zero-reset mechanism that allows the small seconds hand to pause and revert to zero when the winding crown is pulled. This marks the first time a platinum variation will be offered at auction.
ESTIMATE $328,000-656,000
-
Lot 188: Akrivia AK-05 Tourbillon Barette Miroir
Image Credit: Phillips For those with an appreciation of interesting dial work but looking for something different than traditional enamel, this watch from Akrivia is for you. With the AK-05 Tourbillon Barette Miroir, we have a unique combination of features: a hand hammered yellow dial, a titanium construction, and a tourbillon. Similar to the other model up for sale from Rexhep Rexhepi, this watch from his brand Akrivia is an early example bearing the number three and marks the first time the model will appear at international auction.
ESTIMATE $328,000-656,000
Credit: Source link