Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is excited to announce The Geneva Sessions, Spring 2024, online auction, taking place from 12:00 PM CET, Tuesday, March 5, to 2:00 PM CET, Tuesday, March 12. Featuring more than 80 different high-end luxury wristwatches, the sale covers everything from A. Lange & Söhne and F.P. Journe to Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. It even includes a number of non-wristwatch horological objects, from the likes of MB&F, De Bethune, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
– By Logan Baker
One of the most enjoyable parts of being a watch enthusiast is the ability to curate your own horological journey.
There are an endless number of things to learn about watchmaking – and an endless number of wristwatches that are worth experiencing. But apathy occasionally takes hold in us all.
If for whatever reason you've ever felt out of sync with your watch collection, or as if you aren't getting the same enjoyment out of the watch enthusiasm hobby, then it might be worth exploring some alternative ways of engaging with the wide world of watchmaking.
Vintage pocket watches are a great example. Although they've been deserted for daily wear, pocket watches still offer one of the best ways of engaging with the craft of watchmaking. The slightly larger surface area of a conventional pocket watch versus the wristwatch you're used to can help in gaining a greater appreciation for movement mechanics. The best part? They can be quite affordable if you know what you're looking for.
I recommend taking a look at American railroad-grade pocket watches from the late 19th and early 20th century – the level of movement decoration and the level of precision in timekeeping is astonishing. However, if you prefer Swiss, you have plenty of options to choose from as well. Many of the most well-known Swiss watchmakers have lengthy histories that stretch well back into the time of pocket watches. Just start digging around online, and see what you can find!
The same goes for other old-school timekeeping objects that were once essential items but now fulfill the role of nostalgic curiosities. I have a funky mod Bulova mechanical alarm clock from the 1960s that I love and I keep on my bedside table. But there are tons of different avenues to explore in this area. Vintage travel clocks can transport you back to the dawn of commercial aviation, when flying was still considered a stylish and luxurious event. Vintage stopwatches from the likes of Heuer can also be a blast to play with – fulfilling a tactile sensation that never quite translates to wrist-born timekeepers.
As part of the Phillips Geneva Sessions, Spring 2024, Online Auction, we've curated a surprising trio of non-wristwatch timepieces that come from brands and makers that you likely already know.
Lot 25: MB&F × L'Epée 'Melchior' Robot Clock
Estimate: CHF10,000 - 20,000
We love MB&F for many reasons, especially for the brand's unrelenting desire to infuse their watchmaking with elements of science fiction. And it's likely that the "Melchior" Robot Clock – created in partnership with Switzerland's only specialized high-end clock manufacture, L'Epée 1839 – is one of MB&F's most audacious sci-fi-saturated creations ever.
Engineered and crafted by L’Epée 1839 for MB&F – Melchior is not only an impressive looking robot but also, and more importantly, an impressive timepiece, with jumping hours, sweeping minutes, double retrograde seconds, and a 40-day power reserve.
What's more is that Melchior even has a mechanical head and arms that can articulate. The right arm takes the shape of a rocket launcher, while the left arm is a Gatling gun.
Melchior's charming personality is accentuated by a combination of fixed vents and rotating discs that create the illusion of blinking eyes. Adding to the animated character, the regulator, visible through a polished glass dome cover, symbolizes Melchior's working "brain."
Much like the brain governs the body, the regulator governs the clock's remarkable precision, providing a captivating and intricate timekeeping experience.
Lot 58: De Bethune × Marc Newson × HG Timepiece Blue 10-Minute Hourglass
Estimate: CHF 10,000 - 20,000
Marc Newson is one of the most famous and influential industrial designers alive today. The Australian helped develop the Apple Watch, and his Lockheed Lounge chair holds the record for the highest price ever paid at auction for the work of a living designer.
The present timepiece is also one he worked on but it's much easier to use than a high-tech smartwatch. It's an hourglass. A simple, streamlined hourglass. And yet, its construction involves a surprisingly sophisticated process.
Crafted from a single piece of glass and skilfully blown by hand in Switzerland by HG Timepiece, the hourglass is filled with countless minuscule metal spheres referred to as nanoballs (approximately 1.2 million of them total) that have been heat treated to reach the trademark blue tone of Swiss watchmaker De Bethune. Yes, this is a rare three-team collaboration, between De Bethune, HG Timepieces, and Marc Newson.
It's fair to consider this more of a piece of art, or a kinetic sculpture of sorts, rather than a traditional timekeeper. The 10-Minute Hourglass shown in the above images is part of a limited edition run of 24 pieces. A much larger variation capable of measuring one-hour intervals was also created but was limited to just 12 pieces.
Lot 1: Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 568 By Marc Newson
Estimate: CHF 8,000 - 16,000
Encased in a beautiful Baccarat crystal housing and collaboratively crafted with the design expertise of iconic artist Marc Newson – yes, him again – the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 568 has been reimagined by infusing it with a contemporary aesthetic, subtly altering its classical style while preserving its essential iconic features.
The Atmos 568, in its current form, boasts a case resembling a distant bubble, with varying thickness that tapers to a mere 13 mm. in specific areas, creating a breathtaking perspective of the pendulum in motion, seemingly suspended in the air. The crystal enclosure was meticulously handmade and blown at the Baccarat glassworks in France, further elevating its exclusivity and adding an artisanal touch to this exceptional timekeeping masterpiece.
In excellent condition, the present Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 568 by Marc Newson is accompanied by its original protective case, manuals, and service papers.
You can view the complete catalog for the Phillips Watches Geneva Sessions, Spring 2024, Online Auction, right here.
About Phillips In Association With Bacs & Russo
The team of specialists at PHILLIPS Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, with its Geneva Watch Auction: XIV having realized $74.5 million in 2021. Over the course of 2021 and 2022, the company sold 100% of the watches offered, a first in the industry, resulting in the highest annual total in history across all the auction houses at $227 million.
About Logan Baker
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He splits his time between New York and Geneva.
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