Samstag, 29. Oktober 2016

Phillips auctions Geneva, November 2016 ----> My picks, Patek 3424, 565 and 570 plus Rolex 6352, 6350 and 6150 plus Jaeger Geophysic cross hair

Dear watch aficionado.

What can one say about a catalogue that Mr. Aurel Bacs, his wife Mrs. Livia Russo and their team were able to set up for their upcoming sale in Geneva for the November auctions? Well, nothing less then outstanding, breathtanking and extraordinary. If one takes the simple fact that at the Phillips auction Mr. Bacs is going to hammer 3 Patek Philippe 1518, one in each metal, only that is already beyond this world! But then, there is as well the "rest" of the catalogue which are 193 lost, and wow, they are stunning. 

So, now I did try to make my choices or my favorite timepieces offered at this superb auction and as I do love all those Albert watches by Patek and their Calatravas like the 570 and 565 plus the early Explorer watches by Rolex, I have chosen 8 different timepieces with as well very different estimates of 5000 CHF to 400 000 CHF.

I would like to start with one of my favorite Patek Philippe dress watches, the legendary 3424 Gilbert Albert (well, I do love all the three of them, due to their special design). I do like these 3424 Albert's due to their very clean and stylish  case design. Plus the design of the dial is kept as well very discreet. And then their is the example offered by Phillips Watches in white gold and it stands out from the others due to its baton indexes and the sublime condition! There is only one word that can describe this timepiece, extraordinary. Estimate 80 000 - 120 000 CHF. Lot N°96



Now we are coming to another of my favorite Patek Philippe timepieces, the legendary 565. Well, one can discuss about if it is a dress watch or tool watch, but certainly it is a bit more sportier then a 570 for example. Due to the fact that it is water resistant and that it has an inner soft iron case I would describe it as a tool watch, almost. And this example offered by Phillips watches is especially beautiful and rare, probably unique. I do love pink gold cases in combination with black dials, it gives a certain warmness and charm to a watch to wear on the wrist. This 565 does feature as well the Freccero retailer signature and the combination of pink gold case, black dial signed by Freccero makes this for me one of the most beautiful timepieces from the entire catalogue. Estimate 40 000 - 60 000 CHF. Lot N°194.



And now the other 565 stainless steel with black luminous dial! The only one in stainless steel to exist with black dial and luminous indexes and hands. The more, this watch has an extraordinarely beautiful story due to the fact that it was gifted from Patek Philippe to their night watchman who passed it to his son several years ago. To own such a watch, so rare with that sublime history, is a serious dream! Wow! This example and the other one with pink gold case and black dial would form a perfect set of the most amazing 565's to have ever appeared on the market. Estimate 200 000 - 400 000 CHF. Lot N°134



And now, the dress watch of the dress watches, a Patek Philippe 570. But this is not only one 570, this one comes with stainless steel case, black dial and arabic numerlas set all around the dial. The more, the condition of the present watch is perfect. It is believed, as stated in the catalogue, that this example is the only one with the so called telephone black dial and steel case! Oh boy, I am going crazy while writing these words due to the shear beauty and importance of these watches. Estimate 150 000 - 300 000 CHF.



Now moving forward to the Rolex watches. I am a big fan of the early Explorer timepieces made by Rolex. They combine adventure, great design and historical importance. The reference 6352 was worn by Sir Edmund Hillary on his adventure to the peak of the Mount Everest. The present example I do really like due to its rare honeycomb dial with the depth rating at 12 o'clock, well it is not really the Explorer but more it is the predessor Explorer . The more it comes with the guarantee and a Rolex box. Will be interesting where this 6352 will end up in the price. Estimate 5 000 - 7 000 CHF. Lot N°45.



Now we are coming to a very nice and interesting Explorer 6150 that was made for the British Army. This one features already the legendary 369 dial but still misses the Explorer signature on the dial. I like all these different variations of dials in the Explorer family. Interesting to see where this one will end. Estimate 10 000 - 15 000 CHF. Lot N°79.



And now to my favorite, the legendary 6350 Explorer with early honeycomb dial, pencil hands and tip dot seconds hand. This is a very nice and superbly looking example. Something is for sure, the estimate will be blown up. Estimate 12 000 - 18 000 CHF. Lot N°179.



The next watch is not a Patek Philippe nor it is a Rolex, but it is a legendary Jaeger LeCoultre Geophysic from 1958 with the uber rare cross hair dial! To find an example with cross hair dial is already so hard, but to find one like the present offered by Phillips Watches is normally impossible. The condition of this Geophysic is beyond this world and it is the best Geophysic to have ever been available on the market. It is probably a once in a lifetime chance for the serious Geophysic or tool watch collector to get an example like the present. Estimate 15 000 - 25 000 CHF. Lot N°17.



You can find the whole offer by Phillips watches on the following link: https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/CH080216

My greatest compliments to Mr. Aurel Bacs, his wife Mrs. Livia Russo and the whole team at Phillips Watches for their accomplishement to offer such a spectacular range of timepieces during the upcoming sale in Geneva! Photos for my article are all by Phillips Watches.

Kind regards.
Christian





Donnerstag, 27. Oktober 2016

NEW Benzinger ONE project - Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. ----> update, some parts of the movement finished with guillochage & gravage à main

Dear watch aficionado.

Since my last post for my project "Benzinger ONE - Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co." (first fitting of the naked movement article, here & the design article, here) we have worked on the finissage of the different bridges and balance coq of the movement.

As you can see on the photo below, we have left the original engraving on the pont de la roue de couronne (on the right side) all intact and the rest is finished with a nice sun guillochage by hand. On the left side, you can see the balance coq which we completely engraved by hand.



On the following picture, you can see on the right side the barillet which is completely finished with a nice sun guillochage by hand as well the pont de la roue de seconde and the pont de la roue d'ancre.



I would like to show you as well on the following picture the "naked" movement when we were doing the first fitting into the case, to give you a better orientation of the different parts that we have finished by hand now. The scatch in the background represents the design of the dial.



I will keep you updated constantly for this amazing project, so check back regularly. And big thanks again to my client, that he allowed me to show this amazing project here onto my blog.

Kind regards.
Christian



Mittwoch, 26. Oktober 2016

On the wrist ---> Benzinger Subskription IV

Dear watch aficionado.

Superb Benzinger Subskription IV on the wrist. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Samstag, 22. Oktober 2016

Donnerstag, 20. Oktober 2016

On the wrist ----> Benzinger Vollskelett, black edition

Dear watch aficionado.

Very nice Benzinger Vollskelett, black edition, with all the engraving, skeletonizing and guilloché work done by hand. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Mittwoch, 19. Oktober 2016

On the wrist -----> Benzinger Vollskelett

Dear watch aficionado.

On the wrist, this very nice Benzinger Vollskelett with all the engraving, skeletonizing and guilloché work done by hand. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Dienstag, 18. Oktober 2016

Old guilloché machine ----> detail

Dear watch aficionado.

I do really love these old guilloché machines and for me it is always the greatest pleasure and honour to work on them www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Montag, 17. Oktober 2016

On the wrist ----> Omega CK2375 two tone art déco style hour indexes

Dear watch aficionado.

Very nice Omega CK2375 with its two tone art déco style hour indexes. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Samstag, 15. Oktober 2016

NEW at my boutique ----> Patek Philippe 3590 NOS full set. 1st owner, NOS, original strap and buckle, original box, original pouch plus its certificat d'origine, booklet with instructions and the distributeurs booklet.

Dear watch aficionado.

Now available at my boutique www.watchcollector.lu this extraordinary Patek Philippe 3590 NOS full set. 1st owner, NOS, original strap and buckle, original box, original pouch plus its certificat d'origine, booklet with instructions and the distributeurs booklet.

Kind regards.
Christian




Donnerstag, 13. Oktober 2016

NEW Benzinger ONE project - Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. ----> the design

Dear watch aficionado.

For my new Benzinger ONE project I have introduced you the first fitting of the "naked" movement into the case, article last week. As the project continues, I am very proud to introduce you now the design of this extraordinary timepiece. 





























On the photo on the right, you can see the design of the dial side. The dial will only be the outer ring (made of 925 sterling silver, original Breguet Frost finish, hand-guilloché) around the minutes and hours and the outer ring around the small seconds. This allows a perfect view of this extraordinary Patek Philippe movement which will be completely hand-guilloché, hand-engraved plus hand-skeletonized finished in the legendary Benzinger style.

On the left photo you can see the design laid over the movement (dial side view), one does need a bit of imagination to recognize what the result at the end will be. The result will be absolutely stunning and extraordinary.

The back of the movement will keep its original nice forms of the bridges and they will be completely hand-guilloché finished.

Kind regards.
Christian

Mittwoch, 12. Oktober 2016

NEW Benzinger ONE project - Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. ----> first fitting of the movement into the case

Dear watch aficionado.

I am very happy and proud to inform you about my new Benzinger ONE project that I am allowed to create for a good client of mine, a serious, distinguished gentleman collector, and who gave me the permission to present the different steps of production for this extraordinary timepiece.

I have chosen for this project an extraordinary Patek Philippe pocket watch movement which was made for Tiffany & Co. in 1915. This movement is not only a simple movement, but it is a movement of extra quality with 20 jewels and adjusted to 8 positions. These chronometer movements were back at that time and still today highly appreciated by collectors and extremely sought after. The forms of the bridges of the movrment are so beautiful and every time when I hold such a nice watch in my hands, I fell in love.

Now, for this Benzinger ONE project we chose a nice stainless stell case with tear drop style lugs and a nice smoothly stepped bezel. And so we made a first fitting with the "naked" movement (not yet finished with the Benzinger style, as one can see) into the case. I can already imagine how special and extraordinary this timepiece will look after its Finissage is made and the dial is set up.






In the background you can see the design of the dial side. A post about this one will follow later, So stay tuned and check back regularly.

Kind regards.
Christian

On the wrist ----> Buren Grand Prix 525, NOS, 1st owner, original strap buckle and price tag

Dear watch aficionado.

This is a nice Buren Grand Prix 525, NOS, 1st owner, original strap buckle and price tag. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu


Montag, 10. Oktober 2016

Andersen Genève, Montre à Tact ----> Another favorite of mine

Dear watch aficionado.

Another favorite Andersen Genève timepiece of mine. The legendary Montre à Tact. This is the modern interpretation of the Montre à Tact invented by Abraham Louis Breguet at the end of the 18th century. This watch is absolutely spectacular with its art déco style white gold case and the blue gold, hand guilloché finished dial. You can read the time on the dial or discreetly between the lugs. It is a limited series of only 33 examples, this is number 11. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info: www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Freitag, 7. Oktober 2016

On the wrist ---> Oris pointed date cal 453, 1st owner, NOS, original strap buckle and hang tag

Dear watch aficionado.

Very nice Oris pointed date cal 453 with its superb two tone grey/black dial. From 1st owner, NOS, original strap buckle and hang tag. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian


Donnerstag, 6. Oktober 2016

New at my boutique ----> Omega CK2375 two tone hour indexes from 1st owner

Dear watch aficionado.

Now available at my boutique, this very nice Omega CK2375 from the original owner. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian




Mittwoch, 5. Oktober 2016

Phillips Watches November sale in Geneva ----> Catalogue online!

Dear watch aficionado.

Finally the Phillips Watches catalogue is online! And yes, it is again a superlative, impressive and extraordinary! Congratulations to Aurel, Livia and the whole team at Phillips Watches to have created again such an amazing offer of superb timepieces! Herewith the link to their catalogue: http://issuu.com/phillipsauction/docs/ch080216_catalog/1?e=1

Kind regards.
Christian


Dienstag, 4. Oktober 2016

New at my boutique ----> Buren Grand Prix 525, NOS, original strap and buckle plus price tag, 1st owner

Dear watch aficionado.

Now available at my boutique, this super nice Buren Grand Prix 525, NOS, original strap and buckle plus price tag, 1st owner. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian






Montag, 3. Oktober 2016

On the wrist ---> Movado 14865 monopusher, 1st owner, NOS, stigma dial

Dear watch aficionado.

This is a superb Movado 14865 monopusher chronograph, NOS condition, from the first owner, with an extraordinary nicely patina on the dial plus the dial does wear the stigma of the hands. I warmly invite you to take a look at the website of my boutique for more info and photos www.watchcollector.lu

Kind regards.
Christian