Phillips Announces Highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX Featuring The Guido Mondani Collection
On 11 to 12 May, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will host The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX Featuring The Guido Mondani Collection at the Hotel President. The sale will inaugurate a new location for Phillips’ flagship Geneva Watches sale, featuring 500 square meters of sunlight-flooded exhibition space and stunning views of Lake Geneva.
Comprised of over 200 lots, the auction will feature a diverse assortment of significant timepieces from the vintage and modern eras, including a two-crown Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 2523/1, a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ‘John Player Special’ Ref. 6241, a Rolex Ref. 6102 with “Caravel” cloisonné enamel dial, and a third-series Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref. 3448 with “inverted date.”
The auction also features a possibly unique and previously unknown A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 with a Blue Dial, the inaugural Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain in Platinum to come to auction, and a “Pre-Souscription” F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance.
The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX – Highlights
Lot 55: Patek Philippe, Ref 2523/1, circa 1960
The two-crown Patek Philippe world-time is potentially the very first model to reach the “ultimate grail” status among collectors, achieving it as soon as 1989, when an example was chosen as the cover lot of the “Art of Patek Philippe” auction.
Since then, its popularity has steadily increased – a trend that seems nowhere close to ending. The present example is without a doubt one of the most appealing and collectible Patek Philippe two-crown world-time wristwatches to ever come to market, thanks to its unpolished case and pristine dial.
- Estimate: CHF 1.2 – 2.4 million.
Lot 143: Patek Philippe, Ref 3448 White Gold “Padellone”, 1972
This Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref. 3448 in white gold merges incredible rarity with a most impressive overall condition with inverted date ring.
- Estimate: CHF 400,000 – 800,000
Additional Patek Philippe highlights in the auction include a 1951 Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 1518 in 18k yellow gold, a 2015 Patek Philippe Chronograph ref. 5070 in 18k white gold with salmon dial from the 2015 Watch Art Grand Exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery of which only five are known (estimate CHF 250,000-500,000), and a freshly unsealed Patek Philippe Split-Seconds Chronograph ref. 5950A (estimate CHF 220,000-440,000).
Lot 216: Rolex, Reference 6241 “John Player Special”, circa 1969
One of the Rolex highlights is a fresh to the market and from family of original owner Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6241 in yellow gold so-called “John Player Special”. It is notably one of the few known “John Player Specials” cased in 14K yellow gold, indicating it was most probably made for the American market. It is also distinguished by its exceptional state of preservation.
- Estimate: CHF 500,000 – 1 million.
Lot 219: Rolex, Ref 6102 “La Caravelle”, circa 1953
Cloisonné dials aren’t typically associated with Rolex, but ref. 6102 is an exceptional anomaly. The spectacular cloisonné enamel dial depicts a Caravel – a small, fast sailing ship of Spanish or Portuguese origin from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The dial was made by one of Geneva’s most acclaimed enamellers, Margueritte Koch, who worked with the Stern Frères company. The watch is furthermore preserved in exceptional condition.
- Estimate: CHF 400,000 – 800,000.
Lot 29: A. Lange & Söhne, Ref 101.026X Lange 1 Stainless Steel “Only One Known”, 1999
The present Lange 1 in steel with blue dial is the only example known in this configuration. The Lange 1 in stainless steel was never offered in a catalogue and the German brand has never confirmed the exact number produced. Experts estimate that approximately 30 were made in total, of which some have appeared sporadically on the international auction market.
Research shows that some were made in 1994 upon the official re-launch of the A. Lange & Söhne, and also produced during the period from 1996-1999 with most examples either delivered to the German, Italian, or American market with either silver or black dials. The watch is consigned by the original owner who bought it in 1999 from German retailer Oeding Erdel.
- Estimate: CHF 150,000 – 300,000.
Lot 200: A. Lange & Söhne, Ref 701.301 Tourbillon Pour le Merite, 1994
While the Lange 1 is arguably the most distinctive timepiece by A. Lange & Söhne, the Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, named after one of Germany’s highest orders of merit, is a true tour de force of mechanical watchmaking.
Taking the tourbillon to new heights, the Pour le Mérite was the first wristwatch to feature the fusée-and-chain transmission, a refined constant-force mechanism that was developed with Renaud & Papi.
The original Pour le Mérite was made in a production run of only 200 pieces, with 106 of that total in 18k yellow gold, such as the present example. This example is also paired with an original 18k yellow gold Wellendorff bracelet, which is confirmed to have been delivered with the watch in 1994.
- Estimate: CHF 120,000 – 240,000.
Lot 60: F.P. Journe Resonance “Pre-Souoscription”, 2000
The earliest F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance examples can be divided into three categories: Souscription, Pre-Production, and Pre-Souscription. We are delighted to offer the last known pre-souscription Chronomètre à Resonance bearing the shallow engravings and shiny dials typical of the earliest references.
- Estimate: CHF 400,000 – 800,000.
Lot 81: F.P. Journe, Tourbillon Souverain “Hong Kong Boutique”, circa 2010
Made in five pieces in celebration of the anniversary of F.P. Journe’s boutique in Hong Kong, the present Tourbillon Souverain in titanium features a graphic and theatrical colour combination of a slate grey dial with salmon script. This coulor combination can also be found on the titanium case, which is paired with a pink gold crown, hands, and deployant clasp.
The present Hong Kong boutique anniversary edition Tourbillon Souverain is number 2 of a limited edition of only 5 pieces. Offered by its original owner, the present example is fresh to the auction market; proceeds from its sale will be donated by the consignor to UNICEF.
- Estimate: CHF 200,000 – 400,000
Lot 58: Rexhep Rexhepi, Chronomère Contemporain, 2019
Rexhep Rexhepi is one of the most exciting independent watchmakers to emerge in the past few years, garnering an almost cult-like following. Thanks to the immense success of his 2018 Chronomètre Contemporain, he became a notable figure in the industry.
The Chronomètre Contemporain was his first round watch as well as his first watch to feature his name, Rexhep Rexhepi, on the dial instead of that of his brand, Akrivia. The model was made in either 18k pink gold with black enamel dial, or in platinum with a white enamel dial, each version limited to just 25 pieces.
- Estimate: CHF 300,000 – 600,000.
Lot 188: Rexhep Rexhepi, AK 05 “Tourbillon Barette Miroir”, circa 2015
Another timepiece from the ateliers of Rexhep Rexhepi is the present Akrivia AK-05 Tourbillon Barrette Miroir in titanium. While his earlier models featured the combination of a tourbillon with another complication, the AK-05 was all about the tourbillon, featuring an extra-large cage and a blued escapement wheel.
The yellow gold dial of the present watch has been meticulously hand hammered. The movement is as attractive as the dial, perfectly symmetrical with gorgeous Geneva stripes, mirror polished elements, and interior angles, it is an ode to beauty and craftsmanship. This AK-05 is the very first model to grace an international auction market. Bearing number 3, it is one of the earliest examples made.
- Estimate: CHF 300,000 – 600,000
The auction will feature a diverse array of significant and highly sought-after timepieces from other esteemed brands. Among them are watches from renowned names including Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Christian Klings, Charles Frodsham, Daniel Roth, Greubel Forsey, Kari Voutilainen, Philippe Dufour, Richard Mille, and Vacheron Constantin.
Global Highlights Tour
New York: 3-5 April | 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Hong Kong: 3-6 April | G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road West Kowloon
Dubai: 18-20 April | MB&F M.A.D Gallery First Floor – Unit FF – 290 – 269 Financial Center Rd – Downtown Dubai – Dubai
London: 19-21 April | 30 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EX
Singapore: 26-28 April | The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road, S247911
Auction
Dates: 11-12 May 2024
Auction Sessions: Session I, 11 May 2pm | Session II, 12 May 2pm
Auction viewing: 8-12 May 2024
Location: Hotel President, Quai Wilson 47, Geneva, Switzerland, 1201
