Putting an end to months of speculation, Phillips has just announced Sam Hines will becomes its International Head of Watches, overseeing the auctioneer’s worldwide watch sales. Based in Hong Kong, Hines was formerly International Co-Head of Watches at Christie’s, having succeeded Aurel Bacs. Now Hines and Bacs are reunited, with Bacs as a Senior Consultant at Phillips.  At Christie’s Hines was responsible for several recording setting sales, including the US$5.8m hammer for a pair of Singing Bird Pistols, as well as the only Patek Philippe Star Calibre 2000 ever sold at auction, which brought in US$3.5m. With Phillips having achieved sterling results at its first sale in May 2015 that included the Rolex Day-Date thematic auction, much will be expected for its upcoming sales in Geneva and Hong Kong, as well as the Only Watch charity auction.