I thoroughly enjoy the build up to the Geneva auctions.
There is something about the auctioning of pieces in their native environment that makes so much sense. You breath watches in this city. It truly is the horological capital of the world, making each auction season something of an ode to the cities capabilities in the artistry that is watchmaking.
I realize that the real, great pleasure of auctions is all about the build up. From first receiving the catalog, going through lot by lot, to the excitement of handling and studying the pieces at preview.
I gain very little pleasure from the actual auction itself. Because seeing paddles fly, to me, is not as exciting as that initial moment of discovery, the finding a hidden gem in a catalog and marvelling at the thought of owning such a piece.
I decided this time to focus on a single lot from each of the 4 auction houses, in an attempt to really push myself in picking what I truly believe to be a unique, exceptional and out of the ordinary timepiece.
So without further ado, here are my favorite watches from the 2019 Geneva spring auctions:
At first glance, I thought this watch to be some weird kind of calendar. Then, as John Mayer suggests we do with certain watches, I ‘looked closer’.
I was astonished to read: ‘Cette Montre A Ete Fait Par Patek Phillipe Co Sur Dessin De Mr Richard Bordenache 1938’ translating to ‘This Watch Was Made By Patek Phillipe Co To The Design of Mr Richard Bordenache 1938’.
Mr Bordenache was a Romanian architect, stuck in a mix of art deco and flourishing Bauhaus design, to which he adapted as a prominent exponent of the functionalist movement. And this watch, this incredible piece of design, with semi-hidden, straight lugs on a very round watch with a wide bezel, sums up all of his work and creative genius in one unique timepiece made by none other than Patek Phillipe & Co.
I was astonished to discover and learn about this watch. With an estimate of CHF 25-50k, I believe this to be a great emotional and cultural investment in the field of art, architecture and watchmaking.
Few watches can compare in terms of uniqueness and importance to the world of finer pleasures.
Phillips
Lot 34 – George Daniels Grand Complication 1987
From a horological perspective, this will be, by far, the most important watch for sale this weekend, period.
A true milestone of modern independent watchmaking, and one of the very last important important pocket watches to have been made. This minute repeater is the only timepiece to feature and instantaneous perpetual calendar with retrograde date and minute repeater, both of which are of Daniels’ own design. It also has a thermometer, equation of time and one minute co-axial tourbillon, another one of his inventions.
It was kept in Mr. Daniels collection and never sold during his lifetime, meaning the watch was extremely special.
To own a piece of his personal collection and arguably one of his most complicated watches to be single handedly ever made is the definition of grail in the eyes of an independent or technically driven collector.
Antiquorum
Lot 155 – Namiki ‘Hannya’ Masterpiece of Masterpieces
I enjoyed many watches from the Antiquorum catalog, yet few really stood out as much as this Namiki pen. And no, it was not a question of the CHF 330-550k estimate which shocked me.
I was curious as to how these pens made sense in a watch catalog, then I started reading about them.
Understanding the story behind the man, Ryosuke Namiki (main picture above) and how through technical innovation with japanese manufacturing standards he reached the highest pinnacle of fountain pen making really resonated with all that collecting means to me: that excessive artistry and dedication in a given manufacturing process.
Although a bic plastic pen will work just fine, but why not make of a mundane experience something extraordinary?
‘The Tale of Genji’ and ‘Hannya’ mask makes me want to dive into ancient Japanese mythology and really understand the whole purpose behind the design. Adding to all, the notion that this example might just be the last surviving Gonroku Matsuda is the true cherry on the cake.
Like an original Poluzzi enamel. But the last one existing. Doesn’t get much better than that.
I find it hard to believe a recased watch ended up in my top 4 picks from the 1444 lots that will be available this coming weekend.
But when it involves a perpetual calendar, minute repeating Audemars Piguet from 1925 and a 1977 recase by the case masters of Cartier, I had to reconsider.
What strikes me most here, is the incredible mix of 18 karat yellow gold and beautifully veined green malachite. Cartier didn’t just stop at the case, but added malachite markers, all similarly striped and set to converge towards the centre. A small detail that makes you understand the extra sensitivity Cartier truly possesed and why this recase, if anything, adds value to the piece.
The use of such stones only started becoming mainstream later in the 80s and 90s, making the client’s request a precursor of later trends. The estimate of CHF 60-120k is definitely important, yet I think the piece deserves it.
A perfect mix of history, uniqueness, design and pure 70’s extravagance.
