NEW YORK, NY.- Phillips announced the full catalogue for Racing Pulse, the annual New York watch auction on Saturday, 12 December, following the announcements of Paul Newman’s Rolex “Big Red” Daytona, the Heuer worn by Steve McQueen in Le Mans, and timepieces from the collection of Sylvester Stallone, including four important Richard Mille timepieces and the brand defining Panerai Luminor worn in the film Daylight.
Phillips has carefully chosen 138 timepieces - selected for their rarity, quality, state of preservation, provenance, and aesthetic beauty – spanning top collectors’ brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, F.P.Journe, Richard Mille, Panerai, and Heuer, among others. The sale will also feature a special, charitable section titled, Time Counts, consisting of 12 lots donated by celebrated personalities, with all proceeds benefiting The One Drop and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundations.
Paul Boutros, Phillips’ Head of Watches, Americas, said, “Receiving the gift of a fine watch from a loving spouse, driving at speeds over 200 mph with a great watch on the wrist, or the first unboxing of a long-desired timepiece – these are thrilling moments that cause one’s pulse to race. The watches of RACING PULSE were chosen with the same goal of getting watch enthusiasts’ pulses racing with their exceptional quality, aesthetics, or provenance. Our team has brought together some of the rarest and most important watches to ever be offered publicly – an extraordinary group that speaks to collectors around the world. From Paul Newman’s iconic Rolex “Big Red” Daytona, to the most important modern Panerai ever offered, to an incredible selection of watches donated by celebrities including Guy Laliberté and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco to benefit noble causes, RACING PULSE will offer an epic collection of modern and vintage timepieces for the final live Phillips auction of 2020. We are proud to present this catalogue and look forward to sharing these watches with our community around the globe.”
Patek Philippe reference 3974. A highly important, incredibly rare, and exceptionally preserved white gold minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch with moonphases, additional caseback, Certificate of Origin, and presentation box, c. 2001. Estimate: $600,000 to $1,200,000
Among the top lots of the auction is a Patek Philippe reference 3974 in 18 karat white gold. Epitomizing the brand’s technical and design prowess, the execution of a perpetual calendar minute repeater is the litmus test for horological greatness and Patek Philippe is incomparable in this regard. The reference 3974, which stands-out as the first automatic-winding, minute repeating wristwatch ever made, was launched in 1989 to celebrate Patek Philippe’s 150th anniversary. Featuring an in-house self winding movement with minute repeater, perpetual calendar, 24-hour indication and moon phases, it was the world’s most complicated wristwatch at the time. Patek Philippe discontinued the 3974 in 2000, and given how complex it was to manufacture, very few examples were made. The present, fresh-to-market example in white gold is the rarest of all case metals and is only the fifth known.
F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Résonance “Souscription” No. 004. An extremely rare, very early, and exceptional limited edition platinum dual time wristwatch with double escapement and brass movement, c. 2000. Estimate: $120,000 to $240,000
Racing Pulse will include an exciting selection of F.P.Journe timepieces, led by an early platinum “Souscription” Resonance with serial number 004. To finance the launch of his brand, Journe created 20 Tourbillon Souverain “Souscription” wristwatches to be sold to supporters using a subscription system whereby the future owners would pay upfront part of the price of the watch. For each of the first twenty patrons, he later offered them his second watch – a “Souscription” Chronomètre à Résonance with corresponding serial number. In June of 2020, Phillips was thrilled to offer Résonance No. 014, which achieved a record-breaking price of 1,040,000 CHF. In RACING PULSE, Phillips will present an even earlier Résonance Souscription, No. 004, cased in platinum with a shimmering white gold dial. Additional examples from F.P.Journe on offer include an extremely rare and early Tourbillon Souverain in pink gold and one of the earliest Octa Reserve de Marche examples ever offered publicly, with serial number 016.
Rolex “Paul Newman” Cosmograph Daytona “Oyster Sotto” Reference 6263. An exceedingly rare, important, and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with Mark I “Oyster Sotto” Paul Newman dial, c. 1969. Estimate: $350,000 to $700,000
The “Oyster Sotto Paul Newman” is the most unattainable and sought-after configuration across all “Paul Newman” Daytona wristwatches. Considered the apex of Daytona collecting, this extremely rare variation of the Cosmograph Daytona was made during the last leg of production of the Paul Newman dial and less than two dozen are known. The present watch is absolutely impressive, with an extremely sharp case still fitted with its rare and coveted ‘millerighe’ chronograph pushers. One of the very first “Oyster Sotto” Cosmographs ever produced, the dial of the present watch is classified as a Mark I. Preserved in outstanding overall condition, the present “Oyster Sotto” provides a rare opportunity for the Daytona enthusiast to obtain the unobtainable.
Rolex “Paul Newman” Cosmograph Daytona “Champagne” Reference 6239. An extremely rare, well-preserved, and highly attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne “Paul Newman” dial, consigned by the family of the original owner, c. 1967. Estimate: $300,000 to $600,000
In the world of watch collecting, gold “Paul Newman” Daytonas are among the most highly sought after, combining extreme scarcity with outstanding aesthetics. Through the entire production run of the reference 6239 only approximately 300 were cased in 18K yellow gold, and only a handful fitted with a champagne “Paul Newman” dial have appeared at public auction. No other similar example can boast of the impeccable provenance of the current 6239 being offered directly from the family of the original owner. Born in Sweden, in 1920, the original owner immigrated to the United States in 1935 and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1938, becoming a highly decorated pilot. This reference 6239 has been preserved in incredible original condition and is one of the finest vintage gold Daytonas to appear on the market.
Patek Philippe reference 1518. An extremely well preserved, very rare, and attractive yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phase, tachymeter scale, and presentation box, c. 1946. Estimate: $350,000 to $700,000
Truly a historically significant model, the reference 1518 was the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch ever produced in series when it was introduced in 1941. Only approximately 281 examples were made until the reference ceased production in 1954, paving the way for successors. Vintage reference 1518s can generally be divided into two categories – those showing some kind of restoration to the dial, which make up more than 90% of the reference 1518s on the market, or those that have seen no restoration or intervention at all, as is the case of the present example. Survivors in every sense, these reference 1518s are untouched since they day they left the factory. The most defining feature of the present example is its long signature dial, which has gracefully aged over time, developing a beautiful, silvery sheen. Equally impressive is its case with crisp hallmarks, sharp edges, and superb definition to its lugs – a stunning feat, considering that many surviving examples have been polished over years of continuous wear.
Patek Philippe reference 3448 “The Pristine Padellone”. An incredibly well-preserved, first series yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phase, original Certificate of Origin, and original box, consigned by the family of the original owner, c. 1966. Estimate: $150,000 to $300,000
Phillips will present what is likely the best-preserved example of a first series Patek Philippe reference 3448 ever seen on the market, having been consigned by the descendants of the watch’s original owner - Dr. Theodore Isaac Rubin, a famed American psychiatrist. The case is untouched, beautifully displaying its perfectly preserved factory original brushed and polished surfaces, razor-sharp edges, and sharp angles. Its original dial is equally breath-taking, with a perfect and crisp hard enamel signature and numerals, with hardly any trace of aging. The ground-breaking reference 3448, nicknamed the “Padellone”, launched in 1962 and was the world’s first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. It is further enhanced by its original Certificate of Origin and original box.
Patek Philippe reference 1463 “Tasti Tondi”. A very rare and well-preserved pink gold chronograph wristwatch with tachymeter scale, c. 1959. Estimate: $200,000 to $400,000.
First released in 1940, Patek Philippe’s legendary reference 1463 was the brand’s first water resistant chronograph fitted with a screw-down caseback and round chronograph pushers. It has grown in desirability as a vintage horological icon that was ahead of its time. Beginning in the late-1930s, there was a growing appreciation in society for outdoor adventures, and the reference 1463 was designed for active clientele. It was produced mainly in yellow gold, with fewer examples in stainless steel, and very few models in pink gold. To date, no more than 64 examples cased in pink gold have appeared on the market, underscoring the absolute rarity of the present timepiece, which also hails from the collection of lauded American psychiatrist Dr. Theodore Isaac Rubin.
Rolex reference 8171 “Padellone”. An extremely rare, highly attractive, and well-preserved pink gold triple calendar wristwatch with moon phase, c. 1951. Estimate: $300,000 to $600,000
Rolex’s reference 8171 is amongst the most legendary mid-20th century timepieces, and one of only two Rolex models ever made featuring a triple calendar and moon phase. Today, collectors more closely associate Rolex timepieces sports models. However, mythical references like the reference 8171 are exceedingly rare, produced during a short period between 1949 and 1952. The reference 8171 impresses not only with its large 38mm diameter, but also with its harmonious case proportions and distinctive edges, facets and angles. Given the “frying pan” shape of their dials, they are affectionately nicknamed “Padellone”. Research indicates only approximately 30 examples are known in pink gold, with this stunning example never before appearing publicly.
Rolex reference 8171 “Padellone”. A very rare, highly attractive, and well-preserved yellow gold triple calendar wristwatch with moon phase, c. 1951. Estimate: $150,000 to $300,000
A similarly exceptional Rolex reference 8171, this 18 karat yellow gold example is fresh-to-the-market, with an extremely well-preserved case having been spared needless polishing. Made in 1951, its non-luminous two-tone dial is completely original with pleasing aging having developed. Rolex’s Padellone is a significant timepiece for collectors ticking so many boxes for classic collecting. It is a wristwatch that is rare, classic, timeless, and exceedingly difficult to find in such well-preserved condition as seen in the present example.
Rolex Submariner “MilSub” reference 5517. An extremely rare and historically important stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with fixed lugs and military engravings, accompanied by Henry Hudson-signed letter from Rolex Bexley, UK, c. 1977. Estimate: $100,000 to $200,000
In the 1970s, the UK Ministry of Defence approached Rolex with specifications for a watch that met their requirements, including fixed spring bars welded to the lugs, (preventing the fitting of a reflective bracelet), a 60-minute bezel insert, large sword shaped hands, and a luminous dial. The resulting watch is now known to collectors as the “MilSub.” Following decommissioning, these military wristwatches were either destroyed by the MOD, or purchased by civilians, with most being transformed by removing the military features. As a result, the present example is an incredible find. It is complete and in exceptional, unrestored, and fully original condition. Fresh-to-the market, the watch is further remarkable for its very rare, 5517 reference. Uniquely made for the MOD, the present example is without a doubt the finest Rolex “MilSub” to be offered at auction in recent memory.
TIME COUNTS
Finally, Phillips is delighted to announce TIME COUNTS – a collaborative initiative with the One Drop Foundation and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation dedicated to providing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and environmental preservation for the world’s most vulnerable communities. Twelve lots – 11 watches and one superb experience – were generously donated by celebrated personalities including One Drop’s founder, Guy Laliberté, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, U2’s Bono, former Formula One racing champions Sir Jackie Stewart and David Coulthard, and Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary. In support of their mission, Phillips will donate the net proceeds from the buyers’ premium to benefit these foundations. Leading this charitable section are four unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grande Complication timepieces generously donated by Guy Laliberté and freshly serviced by Audemars Piguet. Offered individually in 18 karat yellow gold, 18 karat white gold, 18 karat pink gold, and stainless steel, each will be offered without reserve, with an estimate of $200,000 to $400,000.
