Zenith - The New York Watch Auction: XI New York Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Zenith
    Year: 2024
    Reference No: 49.9302.3630/48.I001
    Case No: 123'456
    Model Name: Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone One-Off
    Material: Black ceramic
    Calibre: Automatic, El Primero 3630
    Bracelet/Strap: Black Ceramic bracelet
    Clasp/Buckle: Zenith deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 41mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet, and buckle signed
    Accessories: Box, official certificate signed by Felipe Pantone, additional Black rubber strap with folding clasp, Zenith iridescent presentation box and outer packaging, and Zenith tote bag.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone One-Off is a unique piece created by Zenith together with the Valencia-based optical artist Felipe Pantone for TimeForArt to support the Swiss Institute.

    Crafted in a 41mm octagonal black ceramic case, the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone provides a highly geometric and angular silhouette frame to the miniature, kinetic artwork within. With its easily interchangeable black ceramic bracelet and additional black rubber strap included, particular attention was paid to the ergonomics of this unisex creation as well as its visual impact. Its sharp facets and unique texturized iridescent sapphire dial creation, highlighted by an all-black ceramic case, provide the ultimate play of light.

    At first glance, the standout feature of the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone One-Off is its distinctive dial, which features a unique texturized striped pattern. Completing one rotation every 60 seconds, the tourbillon mechanism, visible through the opening at 6 o’clock keeps the watch always animated. The tourbillon bridge takes on the shape of a lightning bolt, a recurring element in Felipe Pantone’s extensive body of work across different media. Furthermore, the watch is accompanied by a certificate signed by Felipe Pantone.

    On the latest chapter of the artist’s creative output with Zenith, Felipe Pantone shared: “I'm excited to unveil my latest collaboration with Zenith, our most exceptional watch to date. It's a masterpiece of high horology, combining simplicity and sophistication. This complex yet minimalist timepiece features stunning details, including the tiny gradient indexes and hands, the mirror ‘Planned Iridescence’ dial, and a truly unique bolt-shaped tourbillon.”

  • Artist Biography

    Zenith

    Swiss • 1865

    Since Zenith's beginnings, founder George Favre-Jacot sought to manufacture precision timepieces, realizing quality control was best maintained when production was housed under one roof. Zenith remains one of the few Swiss manufacturers to produce their own in-house movements to this day.

    Today, the brand is best known for the "El Primero," the firm's most successful automatic chronograph movement. In an interesting twist of fate, the company that owned Zenith during the 1970s decided to move on to quartz movements and therefore sought to destroy the parts and tools necessary to make mechanical movements. One watchmaker realized this folly and hid the tools and parts before they were destroyed. In 1984, he returned them to Zenith so they could once again make the El Primero movement.

    View More Works

105

Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. 49.9302.3630/48.I001
A unique black ceramic wristwatch with tourbillon and iridescent sapphire dial and interchangeable strap system, sold to benefit Swiss Institute

2024
41mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet, and buckle signed

Estimate
$60,000 - 120,000 
CHF52,800-106,000
€56,200-112,000
HK$466,000-933,000

Sold for $69,850

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
watchesny@phillips.com

Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: XI

New York Auction 7 - 8 December 2024