NEW YORK, NY.- Phillips will present the full catalogue for The New York Watch Auction: SEVEN, showcasing nearly 180 rare and important timepieces, including the previously announced Cartier London Crash and the early F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain numbered 038/99T. Featuring the only known Patek Philippe ref. 2499 retailed by Howes, the auction offers an exceptional selection of watches from time-tested brands alongside independent makers. Following the success of the world tour, the watches will be unveiled in New York at 432 Park Avenue in the public exhibition opening on 3 December. The auction will then take place over the course of two days on 10-11 December.
Paul Boutros, Head of Watches, Americas, and Isabella Proia, Head of Sale, said, “Following Phillips’ ‘White Glove’ sale in Geneva just days ago, which marks the company’s unprecedented 23-month-long streak of selling 100% of watches offered at auction, we are delighted to conclude the Fall auction season with our most diverse New York sale yet. Featuring some of today’s most coveted and desirable collectors’ wristwatches, pocket watches, and clocks, all were carefully selected for their quality, importance, and enduring appeal. Among the top lots of the auction is the only known Patek Philippe ref. 2499 with a dial double signed by the American retailer, Howes, in exceptionally well-preserved condition. We are also proud to offer one of only thirty-five examples of a George Daniels Anniversary Watch in yellow gold – the culmination of Daniels' genius and design ethos in a wristwatch, an extraordinary vintage Omega Speedmaster originally issued to NASA, and the very first example of the reloaded Urwerk UR-102 as part of TimeForArt. The selection of timepieces on offer in The New York Watch Auction: SEVEN once again includes many fresh-to-market, original owner timepieces, and we look forward to welcoming collectors into our saleroom at 432 Park Avenue to see these exciting pieces in the metal.”
Lot 127 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 2499, Retailed by Howes, Possibly Unique, 1973. Estimate: $400,000 - 800,000
The Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 on offer in December is a remarkably well-preserved example. Any ref. 2499 found in such condition is worthy of praise, however the “possibly unique” designation elevates the importance of the present lot, and makes it one of the most important third series ref. 2499 to appear on the market. Making its first appearance since it was sold at public auction over two decades ago, it has resided unaltered in an important American collection since then. Signed by the American retailer Howes, it is the only Howes-signed reference 2499 known, and thus one of the rarest ref. 2499s to ever be offered. The American import mark of “HOX” is stamped on the inside caseback, as well as the crisp “18K” hallmark on the exterior of the caseback, further underscore its originality and outstanding overall condition.
The resurfacing of this possibly unique gem is a most welcome occurrence, certain to delight collectors of vintage, high-end, complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches – with a small, but very significant detail setting it apart.
Lot 110 | GEORGE DANIELS, 35th Anniversary Watch Estimate: $400,000 - 1,000,000
The George Daniels Anniversary watch featured in The New York Watch Auction:
SEVEN marks the 35th anniversary of Daniels’ invention of the Co-axial escapement. Together with Roger W. Smith, only 35 examples were made in yellow gold, and the present example with serial number 09 is offered by the original owner in exceptional original condition. With its perfectly balanced, symmetrical 40mm diameter layout, it gives a sense of order and serenity. A large gold ring engraved with black Roman numerals is further anchored by two small sub-dials indicating the date and seconds on the dial. With a fan-shaped power-reserve indication positioned beneath 12 o’clock, the coveted signature of ‘DANIELS’ at 6 o’clock balances the dial layout in harmony. Exceptionally finished with engine-turned patterns executed by hand, the dial is a pure pleasure to admire. The escapement within uses a single wheel Daniels Co-axial escapement perfected by Roger W. Smith, where the upper and lower wheels of Daniels’ original design were combined into one escape wheel with added teeth. The design permitted the wheel to be fabricated in a single operation and removed a potential error source. For those who seek the ultimate, a piece of horological history and an extraordinary example of the finest in British watchmaking, the present Anniversary by Daniels is a true trophy watch for the discerning connoisseur.
Lot 20 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 5275P, Made for the 175th Anniversary of Patek Philippe Estimate: $300,000 - 600,000
Patek Philippe celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2014 by releasing a collection of six limited edition timepieces. Combining taste, technical mastery, and incredible rarity, they are a masterful representation of Patek Philippe’s excellence in watchmaking, with the reference 5275P being amongst the collection’s most complicated and impressive offerings. With just 175 examples in existence, the reference 5275P is a modern chiming Jump Hour wristwatch that took four years of research and development to create. Amongst watch enthusiasts, the new caliber 32-650 HGS PS was an amazing feat of technology, with the jump hour requiring precise power and energy management to permit its functions to advance in sync. The result is that all time indications advance by instantaneous jump intervals, rather than a constant movement. The 5275P is boldly sized at 40mm in diameter and 45mm from lug to lug and is most appreciated by connoisseurs for its loud and crisp chiming mechanism that is perfectly synchronized to the time. Consigned by the original owner and fresh-to-the market, this watch is extremely well-preserved and is offered complete with the original Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and its accompanying set of accessories.
Lots 37-40 | A Complete Set of Patek Philippe Ref. 5131s
Phillips is proud to offer an entire set of Patek Philippe’s superb cloisonné enamel dial world time wristwatches, produced beginning in 2008. With reference 5131, Patek Philippe resurrected the line of Cloisonné world time pieces, which originally appeared in the 1950s and are now considered amongst the masterpieces of the brand. Launched originally in yellow gold, the reference was produced in the three gold colors and in platinum. In 2021, the last scion of reference 5131 (the platinum version) was discontinued, officially sanctioning the end of this landmark reference. Offered as individual lots and fully complete, the set is consigned by the original owner, an important collector of Patek Philippe watches, who purchased each when they were launched.
Lot 56 | PATEK PHILIPPE, Ref. 5070J “Special Order”, Possibly Unique, 2011 Estimate: $80,000 to $200,000
The Patek Philippe reference 5070 was the first chronograph-only wristwatch released by the firm since the 1960s when production of the iconic water-resistant reference 1463 ceased. Introduced in 1998 at Basel, it was something of a shock to collectors that Patek would choose to reintroduce their chronograph-only line in such bold fashion – particularly with an oversized 42mm case diameter and a dramatically thick, stepped bezel. The present lot is a most probably unique example, and the only one known to feature a superb and radiant brown, luminous dial and Breguet hour markers. Another extraordinary detail on the dial is the subtle monogram, ‘MSO’, presented at 6 o’clock. For Patek Philippe to permit a monogram on the dial, one’s importance to the brand must be truly significant. Discontinued since 2009, the reference houses Patek Philippe’s manual-winding caliber CH 27-70, based upon a highly modified Lemania 2310 ébauche. Considered one of the finest chronograph movement designs of all-time, the movement is extremely well-finished - stamped with the Geneva Seal, while providing an impressive 60 hours of power reserve.
This reference 5070 is offered for the first time at auction, preserved in overall outstanding condition and offered with its Certificate of Origin and fitted box. The 42mm stepped case and the stunning and unique brown dial will certainly appeal to the collector of modern haute horlogerie seeking a one-of-a-kind, specially ordered Patek Philippe watch.
Lot 112 | URWERK, Reloaded UR-102 Estimate: $40,000 - 80,000
One of the 17 timepieces being offered in TimeForArt with all proceeds benefitting Swiss Institute, in this remarkable pièce unique, Cooper Jacoby reinterprets one of the most iconic and decisive URWERK timepieces: the UR-102 in its reloaded version. This singular watch is the very first specimen of the coming UR-102 reloaded collection. It features an hour satellite wandering along a minute track displaying time in both analogue and digital formats. On the face of this unique timepiece, using thermochromic pigments, Jacoby visualizes one of the body's most essential regulatory systems: temperature. In eye-catching shades of blue, green, yellow, and orange, the watch face chromatically corresponds to changes in body and atmosphere temperatures, ensuring that this piece is in a state of constant flux. In a permanent state of renewal, Jacoby and URWERK's creation marries systemic precision of timekeeping with the harmony of human biology. Generously donated by Urwerk, the watch is being sold to benefit the missions of Swiss Institute.
Lot 169 | OMEGA, Speedmaster Ref. 145.012, Originally Issued to NASA Estimate: $75,000 - 150,000
Phillips is proud to offer this extraordinary Omega Speedmaster, originally issued to NASA, and only the second reference 145.012 Speedmaster ever offered at public auction with a NASA serial number inscribed. As is well-known today, the history of NASA and the Swiss watch manufacturer Omega are closely intertwined, since it was an Omega Speedmaster chronograph that accompanied Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on their extraordinary flight, becoming “the first watch worn on the moon.”
The remarkable engravings on the caseback and central case band are only found on Speedmasters destined for one organization – NASA, making it amongst the rarest and most coveted of all vintage Speedmasters. Furthermore, it is only 6 numbers away from a similar reference 145.012-68 worn by Michael Collins (1930 – 2021) during the storied Apollo 11 mission. The watch is accompanied by two Omega extracts, one signed by James H. Ragan, who was a NASA Program Manager and an aerospace engineer. The extract confirms the watch was delivered to NASA via Norman Morris, Omega’s US distributor at the time. Amongst the most important “issued” Speedmasters to appear at auction in recent memory, the present watch is further enhanced by its outstanding state of preservation.
