Phillips Watches, 10 May 2015 – my picks

When it was announced that Aurel Bacs would head his own watch department at Phillips, I could not wait to see the first catalogue, “ONE”. What Bacs and his team assembled for their first sale is remarkable: many super rare watches, in a condition seldom seen.

I tried not to pick the whole catalogue, but could not resist the Patek Philippe 130 in steel, the pink 1518 and the pink 1506. I added four other interesting watches: a Heuer Monaco, an Omega monopusher, two Longines chronographs and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris.

Patek Philippe 130, steel

The single-button chronograph in stainless steel. Its sister with case number 504 147 belongs to the Patek Philippe Museum; this one, case number 504 146, was offered here. In 2005 it was sold at Christie’s for 1,308,000 CHF. Lot 123, estimate 1,000,000–2,000,000 CHF.

Patek Philippe 1518, pink gold

A stunner, never seen before and untouched: a 1518 in rose gold with rose dial and bracelet. I call it the “triple pink” because of its Gay Frères bracelet, never seen before on a 1518. Lot 165, estimate 800,000–1,400,000 CHF.

Patek Philippe 1506, pink gold

A pink 1506 chronograph, new to the market. Only two pink-on-pink 1506 chronographs had appeared in public before, making this the third. Together with the 591, it is for me one of the most beautiful chronographs made by Patek Philippe. The last one sold was at Christie’s in 2008 for 603,000 CHF. Lot 101, estimate 300,000–500,000 CHF.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris

A very good example of the Polaris, of which only 1,714 were produced and which is much sought after today. This one has the MEMODATE inscription instead of MEMOVOX and is signed LeCoultre. Lot 141, estimate 15,000–25,000 CHF.

Heuer Monaco, 1969

I like the early Monaco chronographs, especially one from 1969 like this in stunning condition, with the original sticker on the back, leather strap and presentation box. Lot 195, estimate 6,000–8,000 CHF.

Omega monopusher, Royal Canadian Air Force

Omega monopusher chronographs are great watches, especially those delivered to the Canadian Air Force like this one, with military markings on the back and a 36 mm case. Lot 82, estimate 5,000–7,000 CHF.

Longines “Lindbergh”

A watch with a great deal of history behind it. It was a gift from Charles Lindbergh to Dieudonné Costes, who in 1930, together with Maurice Bellonte, was the first to fly the Atlantic from east to west, from Paris to New York, in 37 hours and 18 minutes. Lindbergh had flown the other way in the Spirit of St. Louis in 1927. The watch is accompanied by two letters from descendants of Costes stating that it was a gift from Lindbergh. Lot 86, estimate 60,000–80,000 CHF.

Longines monopusher, 1935

An early monopusher chronograph from 1935 with a two-tone dial, telemeter and tachymeter scales in blue, a 40 mm yellow gold case and a beautiful movement. Lot 84, estimate 15,000–25,000 CHF.

Photographs: Phillips Watches.