Announcing the Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction: SEVEN and Singapore Preview

Mark your calendars, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is returning to Hong Kong with the Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction: Seven. The auction will take place on November 27, 2018 at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong and, as usual with Phillips, the team compiled a great selection of rare and exceptional timepieces consisting of modern and vintage watches.

More than 250 lots will be up for grabs and of course you’ll find familiar brands such as Rolex, Omega and Patek Philippe, but if you like independents you’ll get a fair assortment as well.

Here is a small sample from the catalogue.

Lot 866 – De Bethune DB25T Zodiac (04/20)

The DB25 is one of De Bethune’s longest standing models and their take on classic watches which results in more ordinary looking timepieces than the more futuristic watches we associate the brand with. But don’t let this simplicity fool you.

This DB25T Zodiac, as the name suggests, features the 12 signs of the Zodiac etched on small ovals surrounding the dial. These ovals are solid-gold plates which were finely hand-engraved by artist Michèle Rothen, and these small medallions are set into a mirror-polished blued titanium ring with white gold “stars” around them. The piece is further adorned with a white center dial, finely finished with guilloché.

Technical content is also an important part of this timepiece with the curved aperture beneath 12 o’clock displaying a scale from “0” to “5” as a diagnostic for the movement operation. The watch also features a dead beat seconds complication and a tourbillon visible only from the back of the piece.

To top it all off, this particular limited edition timepiece, numbered 4 of 20 pieces, comes from the private collection of the manufacturer’s founder. Phillips also lists a DB28T coming from the same collection.

Lot 834 – Patek Philippe ref. 3448 “Padellone”

If provenance is the main aspect you look at in a vintage watch then this Patek Philippe ref. 3448 “Padellone” should fulfill your needs.

First of all the Patek Philippe ref. 3448 is historically important for the brand as it was the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch made by the maison. Made from 1962 to 1981, this present example has never been offered at auction before and comes directly from the original owner’s family. The watch was purchased in the early ’70s at an official Patek Philippe retailer in Zurich and was preciously kept and wisely worn for over 40 years, which is well proven by the fine condition of the timepiece. The lines of the case are sharp and the lugs well defined: it is probable the watch was never polished.

Fun fact, this example is just a few numbers away from the ref. 3448 that sold during the Phillips “Winning Icons” sale last year. That watch sold for US$471,000.

Lot 876 – Rolex Daytona ref. 6241 “John Player Special”

With the numerous “Paul Newman” Daytonas making their way to auction houses every year, it becomes harder and harder to get excited about another one. And let’s face it, after THE “Paul Newman” Daytona belonging to Paul Newman sold last year, no other Rolex with “exotic dial” will come close to the same level of excitement.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some rare ones out there. Case in point, the “John Player Special” Daytona which is a variation of the Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona ref. 6241 but featuring a beautiful and contrasting black and gold dial. The name comes from a tobacco company, John Player & Sons, which sponsored the Lotus Formula One team in 1972 and dressed the cars in black and gold, the company’s corporate colors. The similarities between the car and the watch were absolutely uncanny. The rest is history.

This example is one of only few cased in 18K yellow gold. Fresh to the market and in pristine condition, this timepiece is free of imperfections and features round and complete luminous dots. Dial and hands match and the case is well preserved.

Check out the full catalogue online at Phillips: https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/HK080218

If you want to see the highlights in the metal and are based in Asia, don’t miss the Singapore preview 3-4 November and a chance to meet the Phillips team in person.