Article | The Phillips Geneva Watch Days Auction Returns With A Host Of Surprises

This year marks the fourth charity auction held by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo in support of the École d'Horlogerie de Genève, Switzerland's oldest watchmaking school. The event will be held at the official Geneva Watch Days Pavilion at La Rotonde du Mont-Blanc on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at 6 p.m. To take part in the auction, whether as a bidder or a spectator, please pre-register at eventsgeneva@phillips.com

Profits from the sale will benefit the Pierre Amstutz Fund, a non-profit organization named in honor of the former director of the Geneva School of Watchmaking. The funds raised provide scholarships for the school’s watchmaking and micromechanics apprentices who can sometimes find themselves in precarious financial situations, which can impact their studies.

A total of CHF 400,000 has been rasied to date and this year’s exceptional lots will take this sum even higher, enabling more apprentices to complete their studies in optimal conditions.

Lot 1. Behrens

The Behrens IP-Alien artwork features a non-working titanium Orion One mechanical sculpture that rests on a stainless steel stand measuring 160 mm high by 120 mm across. The artwork pays tribute to the awe-inspiring journey of human exploration around the cosmos and would be a great addition to any desk or mantlepiece.

Lot 2. Bell & Ross

This exclusive Bell & Ross X Patrouille de France experience includes a cocktail reception at the Bell & Ross headquarters in Paris and a private meet-and-greet with the French Air and Space Force’s prestigious Patrouille de France aerobatic display team. This privileged access will give you insights into the remarkable world of one of France’s most elite units.

Lot 3. Bianchet

For tennis lovers, Bianchet is offering a tennis racket and match jersey signed by its ambassador Alexander Bublik, who made history as the first Kazakhstani tennis man to reach the ATP Top 10. He is appreciated for his underhand serves, blistering aces, and enigmatic smile when he both loses and wins a point.

Lot 4. Breitling

Experience the excitement of the NFL with Breitling in Paris on 25 October 2026, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints at the iconic Stade de France. Before kick-off, the successful bidder will be invited to an apéritif at the brand’s boutique and will receive a special Breitling souvenir.

Lot 5. COSC

This one-of-a-kind piece celebrates the art of precision adjustment and the excellence of watchmaking craftsmanship, showcasing the winning entry of the inaugural 2025 Calibership Challenge. The movement is presented in apparent levitation, in full view for all to see.

Lot 6. Czapek

Czapek is offering a limited, numbered (10/10) lithography by Wissam Shawkat bearing the Czapek tagline “We collect rare people” in Arabic. Shawkat has previously worked with Czapek to design the Eastern-Arabic numerals of several of its limited-edition timepieces.

Lot 7. David Candaux

This canvas is an original work by the Spanish contemporary artist Saturno. It reproduces the dial he designed and hand-painted for David Candaux’s DC7 Genesis timepiece, which was part of the Only Watch auction in 2021. The artwork incorporates his renowned technique of layering colour and creating dramatic contrasts and precise lighting effects.

Lot 8. Fears

Fears presents a one-of-a-kind English tea service that celebrates the brand’s British heritage, refined design language, and the enduring ritual of teatime. Crafted in Stoke-on-Trent, the bespoke bone-china tea service is offered with a year’s supply of Fears Breakfast Blend Tea.

Lot 9. Gallet

For those who love a thrill, Gallet is offering the successful bidder the unique opportunity of going paragliding with Ben Kellet, one of the brand’s paragliding adventurers. The experience will take place in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, between May and September 2027.

Lot 10. Hautlence

Hautlence presents an invitation to an exclusive, curated experience during Gallery Weekend Berlin from 30 April to 1 May, 2027. The experience is curated by René Schmitt, the brand’s long-standing art advisor and one of Berlin’s most respected gallery owners, who will accompany the successful bidder on a deeply personal introduction to the event.

Lot 11. Konstantin Chaykin

This unusual lot will include a sketch by Konstantin Chaykin together with the opportunity to watch him create it live during a masterclass for students at the Haute École d’Art et de Design. During this session, he will sketch an entirely new watch, transforming the lot into an interactive experience.

Lot 12. Kerbedanz

To mark its 15th anniversary, Kerbedanz has joined forces with ARARAT Vaspurakan in the creation of a bespoke brandy dispenser that has been specially designed to house three bottles of ARARAT Vaspurakan 15 Years. Crafted in wood, it comes with three bottles of the exceptional Armenian brandy that has a velvety smooth palate defined by sweet dried fruits, spices, and toasted oak.

Lot 13. Ming

For lovers of technology and design, Ming is donating its first tantalum polymesh prototype bracelet to the auction. The Ming Polymesh is the world’s first 3D-printed metal bracelet-strap hybrid that combines the flexibility and comfort of fabric with the strength, structure, and presence of metal. It fits most watches with a 20 mm lug width.

Lot 14. Phillips and Dropshop

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo has donated a unique print by acclaimed artist Ludovic Nkoth. This exceptional work is a one-of-a-kind, artist-embellished print from an edition of 50 screenprints. It is produced in collaboration with global independent music company Reservoir and the Miles Davis Estate. Numbered 1/50, it is the only print where the artist has painted a watch onto Miles Davis’ wrist.

Lot 15. The Tutto Bene Hillclimb

This exclusive experience includes access to the unique world of the Tutto Bene Hillclimb, an invitation-only, non-competitive parade of collector cars and supercars that take on the winding roads of the Strada Privata Borromea. The winning bidder will experience the event alongside a driver in a Unimatic car and will be invited to an exclusive dinner on Isola Madre in Stresa.

Lot 16. Urwerk

The Macallan x URWERK Flask holds two titanium tanks which allow different types of whisky to be carried at once, along with a spring-loaded directional mouthpiece that switches between them. Its deployable winglets transform the piece into its own stand and its integrated cask indicators discreetly display the age and wood type.