Together with Rolex, Patek Philippe is the unwavering leader of watch auctions around the world. Rarely auctions with a careful selection of lots can be handled without new records from these leaders of the vintage market.
The Geneva Watch Auction XI presented by auction house Phillips was no exception. Bids were accepted by Aurel Bax — a real star of watch auctions, who works with Phillips also at the stage of searching for future lots.
This time, expectations were met by the Patek Philippe watches from the personal collection of Mr. Jean-Claude Biver — the man who helped revive the Blancpain brand and transform TAG Heuer and Zenith into the famous worldwide brands we all know today. Used to be a man once standing at the helm of the LVMH watch division, Mr.Biver provided four watch models, two of which managed to cross the record line. Three times the lower limit of the estimate of 1.2 million francs exceeded the Patek Philippe model Ref. 1518. Lot 38, a perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phase indicator, was sold for 3,380,000 francs (a record for Ref. 1518 in the case of precious metals). The interest of collectors has increased thanks to several facts.
First of all, this 1948 watch is the best-preserved copy of the 13 known samples with a pink dial.
Secondly, this rose gold watch has its unique feature - the standard gold hands were replaced with gunmetal ones at the request of the client, who was striving for better readability of the readings.
The second world record, this time made by the second series Patek Philippe Ref. 2499, was set by lot 155 in yellow gold. This rare model with a chronograph and calendar was sold for 2.6 million francs. The exclusivity of this watch is that the second series Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 extremely rarely appears on the world market. Therefore, the possibility to bid at the auction and buy watches that have been in a private collection for most of the time has become a real gift.
The Geneva auction has become a symbol of the revival of the watch market after coronavirus isolation and showed that admirers had retained their interest in watches. More than 2,000 watch collectors registered to participate online, and the total amount of the auction exceeded 30 million francs.