Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo and Mark Cho, co-founder of the menswear retailer The Armoury, have announced The Beauty in Everything Single Owner Online Auction, presenting over 50 iconic timepieces from the collection of Mark Cho, an avid watch collector and aficionado for nearly two decades.
The sale of this single-owner collection that was formed over 16 years reflecting Cho’s horological passion, impeccable taste and deep knowledge of watches will consist of vintage and modern timepieces by watch brands such as Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Grand Seiko, Cartier, Omega, and H. Moser & Cie.
Taking place on Phillips.com and Phillips App from 30 November to 6 December, many watches from Cho’s collection will represent an exciting opportunity for collectors around the globe to acquire extraordinary timepieces.
Selected highlights from the sale will be on view in London from 20-23 October and Geneva from 2-6 November. A full auction preview of the collection will be held at The Armoury Pedder Building in Hong Kong from 30 November to 6 December, 2022.
Auction Highlights
A. Lange & Söhne, Lange 1 Soirée
Made in extremely small quantities, the present Lange 1 from Cho’s collection is a true spectacle offered in excellent overall conditions, boasting an iridescent dial fashioned entirely out of mother of pearl with hand-finished guilloche patterns.
Fitted in a white gold case with matching bracelet, it retains all the desired elements of a quintessential Lange 1, featuring the iconic oversized date apertures at 2 o’clock, power reserve indication at 3 o’clock, an hours and minutes register and a small seconds subsidiary dial.
Estimate: HK$300,000-600,000/ US$38,500-76,900
Patek Philippe, Nautilus, Ref. 3800/001
The Patek Philippe reference 3800/001 in stainless steel offered in the sale is an exceptional Nautilus. Featuring a rare dial with a sunburst finish, this radial grey canvas is contrasted with hand-painted white minute markers.
According to its Certificate or Origin and Extract from the Archives, the present wristwatch originally left the factory in 1990 with a “black matte ribbed dial” and “white gold indexes”.
A receipt from Patek Philippe is further delivered with this timepiece, confirming that the updated anthracite grey dial with white markers was delivered in 2011.
Estimate: HK$300,000-500,000/ US$38,500-64,100
Patek Philippe Ref. 3940
The Patek Philippe reference 3940 was first released in 1985 as a 25-piece limited edition to commemorate the 225th Anniversary of Beyer Chronometrie, an esteemed Zurich-based retailer and long-time friend of the firm.
This present reference 3940 bears a movement that belongs to the first series with a small production of no more than 1300 pieces. Boasting a distinctive dial, featuring flat, sunken sub-registers with 24-hour and leap year indicators, the earlier specimens differ from later examples which have a leap year sub-dial with a cross dividing the four years.
Furthermore, this is a rare dial variation made exclusively for the German market, as seen in the day and month indications.
Estimate: HK$250,000-450,000 /US$32,100-57,700
Grand Seiko SBGZ001
The Grand Seiko SBGZ001 presented in the sale is one of the most ambitious designs the brand has ever released.
Made in the Micro Artist Studio, where the brand’s ultra-fine, small production pieces are created, it features a fully hand-engraved case in their signature “Snowflake” style as well as a Dufour level of finishing on the movement.
It was released as a limited edition of 30 pieces in honour of the 20th Anniversary of the Spring Drive. Only available at the Grand Seiko Boutiques, this platinum reference is part of a group of timepieces first released in March 2019, powered by the Spring Drive caliber 9R02.
Estimate: HK$200,000-400,000 / US$25,600-51,300
H. Moser x The Armoury Total Eclipse
In an unprecedented collaboration between H Moser & Cie and The Armoury, the Endeavour Small Seconds Total Eclipse was conceived, embodying the distinct design codes of both houses.
Launched in January 2022 with a limited edition of 28 pieces, this model comes in two references and is inspired by both brands’ deep appreciation for quality craftsmanship and exceptional elegance.
Both references sport a stark Vantablack dial that absorbs 99.965% of the light, reflecting the astronomical phenomena of a backlit moon obstructing the sun. The watch comes with Breguet hands, a floating subdial and a polished inner bezel.
Estimate: HK$120,000-200,000/ US$15,400-25,600
Chanel, Monsieur de Chanel, Ref. H4800
Introduced in 2016, Chanel Monsieur reference H4800 is a limited edition of 300 pieces, with 150 examples in beige gold and another 150 pieces in white gold.
Encased in beige gold, the present watch features a silvered dial with jumping hours, and retrograde minutes backed up by a beautifully designed and finished movement. Powered by the Caliber 1, the launch of this model also marks the momentous milestone of the Maison’s first in-house high-watchmaking movement.
As a special nod to Chanel jewellery, the case is made of their proprietary beige gold rather than typical yellow or pink gold.
Estimate: HK$60,000-120,000/ 7,700-15,400
Quick facts
- Name of auction: The Beauty in Everything Single Owner Online Auction
- Dates from 30 November to 6 December, 2022
International Preview
London: 20-23 October at Phillips, 30 Berkeley Square, London
Geneva: 2-6 November at Hôtel La Réserve, 301 Route de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
Hong Kong: 30 November – 6 December at The Armoury Pedder Building, Shop 307, 12 Pedder St, Central, Hong Kong
Online auction link: https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/HK080422
