A recap of the Phillip’s Hong Kong Watch Auction: One
Right on the heels of their very successful Geneva Watch Auction: Two, Phillips just hosted another watch auction but this time on the other side of the world in Hong Kong. The auction had a spectacular array of important and rare men’s and women’s timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, A. LANGE & SÖHNE, Van Cleef & Arpels, Breguet, and Audemars Piguet.
The most expensive watch sold at the event was naturally the Patek Philippe 3450 (estimate: $ 1,031,885 – $2,063,770)., which was touted as the highlight of the auction. It sold right in the middle of its low and high estimate at $1,552,987.
Interestingly, the two of the three highest valued Rolex of the night – Daytona Paul Newman 6264 “John Player Special” (estimate: $322,464 – $451,450) and Chronograph 6036 “Jean-Claude Killy” (estimate: $206,377 – $309,566) – did not sell, while the most expensive Rolex of the night – Daytona Paul Newman 6263 “Panda” (estimate: $206,377 – $309,566) – sold just shy of its high estimate at $299,246.
Some of our favorite Rolex models going into the auction were the yellow gold GMT-Master 6542 (estimate: $134,145 – $185,739) with original bakelite bezel, the Submariner 5510 “Big Crown” (estimate: $61,913 – 77,391) and the GMT-Master 1675 (estimate: $25,797 – $38,695) sporting a transitional case without crown guards. Each achieved a strong sale number at $190,898, $72,554 and $41,920 respectively.
Some Rolex Day-Date models did exceptionally well at the auction including a Day-Date 1804 with the logo of a Japanese bespoke tailoring service, M. Kubo, on the dial, a Day-Date 118238 with a coral stone dial, and a Day-Date 1811 “Stella”.
As expected, the stainless steel Daytona Paul Newman 6262 performed well, selling for $146,000 – $200,000 above its high estimate. A surprising star of the Rolex line up was the Sea-Dweller 16600 “Tiffany & Co.” which sold at almost four times its high estimate for a final price of $32,250.
Here’s a recap of some of the Rolex watches that sold beyond their high estimates at the Phillip’s Hong Kong Watch Auction: One.
1. Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman 6262
Circa: 1971
Estimate $79,971 – $128,985. Sold for: $146,011
2. Cosmograph Daytona 6263
Circa: 1986
Estimate $51,594 – $77,391 Sold for: $106,413
3. Cosmograph 6239 “Solo”
Circa: 1963
Estimate $51,594 – $77,391. Sold for: $96,739
4. Day-Date 1804 “M.Kubo”
Circa: 1960
Estimate $58,043 – 77,391. Sold for: $114,474
5. Day-Date 118238 “Coral Stone Dial”
Circa 2010
Estimate $32,246 – 51,594. Sold for: $87,065
6. Day-Date 1811 “Stella”
Circa: 1974
Estimate $23,217 – $32,246. Sold for $58,043
7. Submariner 6536-1 “Small Crown”
Circa: 1956
Estimate $15,478 – $19,347. Sold for $35,471
8. Prince 912
Circa: 1939
Estimate $10,318- $15,478. Sold for $45,144.
9. Sea-Dweller 16600 “Tiffany & Co.”
Circa: 1993
Estimate $6,191 – $8,255. Sold for $32,246.
As with any auction, there were some hits and some misses at the Phillip’s Hong Kong Watch Auction: One, and that is part and parcel of collecting vintage Rolex watches. We are now gearing up for what should be two very exciting watch auctions by Sotheby’s and Christies taking place this month in New York City.
