Here’s the second part of a series of highlights from the inaugural Phillips watch sale, “The Geneva Watch Auction: One”, set to take place in Geneva next month.

Paul Boutros, International Strategy Advisor at Phillips‘ watch department, has selected just over two dozen highlights from the upcoming Philips sale (see part one for the first instalment). A collector, expert and journalist, Paul’s taste is sophisticated and eclectic, resulting an a dozen varied and interesting timepieces. Lot 62: This is No. 1 of the Vacheron Constantin Malte Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine, which has a case, dial and buckle in 950 platinum. 75 pieces were made in 2006. This is estimated at CHF15,000-25,000.

Lot 89: A Vacheron Constantin ref. 6782 “Turnograph”, circa 1964. This is in white gold, likely being one of only two of such watches ever made. Estimated at CHF20,000-30,000.

Lot 96: The ref. 2526 was the first automatic Patek Philippe watch, and this is an especially collectible example. The enamel dial is perfect (they are often cracked) and signed “Serpico y Laino”, a Venezuelan retailer of Patek Philippe back in the day. This is fitted with a heavy gold Gay Frères bracelet that was probably added later on. The estimate is CHF25,000-35,000.

Lot 102: The Tank Chronograph Monopoussoir is one of Cartier’s rarest modern chronographs, made in a limited edition of 100 pieces each in white and rose gold in 2008. This is estimated at CHF14,000-22,000.

Lot 104: Another Cartier from a decade ago, the Tank Cintree was a limited edition from 2006 in platinum or rose gold. This piece is in platinum, one of 50 made. Estimated at CHF15,000-25,000.

Lot 122: This Patek Philippe ref. 2499/100 was retailed by Beyer and is signed as such on the dial. Dating from 1984, this is complete with the original certificate and packaging, thus the estimate of CHF300,000-500,000.

Lot 135: The Patek Philippe ref. 5029J was made in a limited edition of just 10 watches for the opening of Patek Philippe’s new factory in Geneva in 1996. This is in yellow gold with a champagne dial, and is in almost new old stock condition. The estimate is CHF250,000-350,000.

Lot 142: This Rolex ref. 8895 “Precision” has an attractive salmon dial and good sized 38 mm diameter, meaning it will probably sell for much more than the estimate of CHF10,000-15,000.

Lot 145: A Rolex Cosmograph ref. 6263 in yellow gold, complete with original undated papers and packaging, in near mint condition. It’s circa 1982 and estimated at CHF40,000-70,000.

Lot 167: This is a rare, early version of the Rolex Explorer. Known as the ref. 6610, this has a gilt dial with the depth rating printed in red. And it’s complete with the guarantee paper dated 1956, chronometer certificate, boxes and tags. The estimate is CHF10,000-15,000.

Lot 189: A Rolex Milgauss ref. 6541 from 1958 that has a “tropical” honeycomb dial and lightning seconds hand, two features that make this a particularly desirable example of a particularly desirable model. It’s estimated at CHF150,000-300,000.

Lot 203: This is an example of Vacheron Constantin’s ref. 4178 chronograph that is in mint condition with lovely definition on the teardrop lugs. The case is pink gold with a two-tone champagne dial. The estimate is CHF50,000-100,000.

Lot 223: This is a later production specimen of the Patek Philippe ref. 2497, the brand’s first perpetual calendar with a centre seconds. It’s in yellow gold with UK hallmarks, having been sold in the UK in 1959.

“The Geneva Watch Auction: One” will take place on May 10 at the Hotel La Reserve. More details on the sale, including preview days and registration, are available from Phillips.

The inaugural sale by the newly formed Phillips watch department, “The Geneva Watch Auction: One”, will take place on May 10. Here’s a selection of highlights from the sale, curated by watch expert Paul Boutros.

Phillips announced late last year it would form a watch department, confirming the expectations of many in the business. With Aurel Bacs leading the watch department, a great deal was from Phillips’ inaugural watch sale given Bacs’ stellar run at Christie’s, where many record prices were set.  The first Phillips sale takes place in Geneva next month on May 10, with an impressive line-up of watches encompassing the million or half million dollar Rolex and Patek Philippe watches that are de rigeur, as well as a host of other interesting and collectable watches. Paul Boutros, a New York based watch expert and International Strategy Advisor at Phillips’ watch department, picked a few highlights in an exclusive preview.

Lot 79: The “General Sweeney” Rolex 6062, originally presented to Major General Walter C. Sweeney, Commander of the US Air Force Tactical Air Command, and engraved as such on the back. This ref. 6062 has an extremely rare black lacquer dial with spade numerals, of which only four others are known. Beyond the excellent condition, the watch is complete with the chronometer certificate, guarantee card and instructions. Estimate is CHF300,000-600,000.

Lot 86: An oversized, 47 mm Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle watch, designed by Col. Charles A. Lindbergh for pilots. This particular watch dates from the first year of its production, and was given to French aviator Dieudonné Costes by Lindbergh himself. Estimate is CHF60,000-80,000.

Lot 91: A stainless steel example of Vacheron Constantin’s signature vintage chronograph, the ref. 4178 chronograph, with an uncommon salmon dial featuring an equally rare pulsations scale. Estimate is CHF30,000-50,000.

Lot 103: The Cartier montre bracelet réversible basculante was originally made in the thirties. It had a swivelling, reversible case, and was the inspiration for the Cartier Basculante watch of the late nineties. This particularly rare specimen dates from 1964 – only a handful were made that year – and is slightly larger than the thirties original. Both the case and movement are signed “European Watch and Clock”, the joint venture between Cartier and Edmond Jaeger that made watches for Cartier, mainly with LeCoultre movements. Estimate is CHF30,000-40,000.

Lot 112: A Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 16660 “COMEX” from 1982, complete with original warranty, accessories and packaging. Estimated at CHF60,000-80,000.

Lot 130: The F.P. Journey Chronometre Souverain Tokyo edition. Made in 2005 in a limited edition of 20 pieces for the one year anniversary of the F.P. Journey Tokyo boutique. The case is titanium, while the dial is black with orange numerals and markings. Estimate is CHF20,000-30,000.

Lot 143: Rolex ref. 6556 Tru-Beat from 1955 featuring a dead-beat seconds mechanism where the seconds hand moves forward in one second increments like a quartz watch. This was originally intended for doctors and nurses to allow the taking of a pulse. This has the extra of having a Tiffany & Co. signed dial. Estimate is CHF8000-12,000.

Lot 148: The Rolex ref. 6263 Daytona “Paul Newman” with a “panda” dial, with Mk 1 pushers and bezel. Circa 1971 and estimated at CHF150,000-250,000.

Lot 163: This Patek Philippe ref. 1415 world time wristwatch dates from 1939 and is likely the second example ever made of this model. Being an early specimen of the ref. 1415, the bezel only has 30 cities, instead of the 39 or 41 found on later watches. And this particular watch was originally owned by actor and Academy Award nominee Robert Stack. The estimate is CHF60,000-90,000.

Lot 176: Unlike its peers Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet is not particularly known for its vintage chronographs. But they are exceptionally rare, with just over 400 produced, and also finely made. This yellow gold chronograph dates from 1946 and is equipped with a Valjoux VZAH movement. Estimate is CHF40,000-60,000.

Lot 199: This is an IWC from 1950 with a floral motif cloisonné enamel dial made by Stern Créations, the dial maker that was then owned by the Stern family that now owns Patek Philippe. Stern created some of the best enamel dials of the period for brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, the likes of which cost at least five to ten times the estimate of this IWC, which is CHF15,000-25,000.

Lot: 214: Formerly the property of Eric Clapton, the Rolex ref. 6263 “Oyster Albino”, only one of four known examples of the silver dial Rolex Cosmography with the sub-dials in the same silver finish. It’s from 1971, with the correct Mk 1 pushers and bezel. Eric Clapton bought this watch in the late nineties, and sold it in 2003 at Sotheby’s for US$505,000, then a world record. Now estimated at CHF500,000-1,000,000.

Lot 224: The ref. 3448 was the first automatic perpetual calendar made Patek Philippe, introduced in 1962. This particular watch is one of the last of the ref. 3448, dating from 1981, the last year of production. In fact, this watch is the 585th watch to come off the line, making it the penultimate ref. 3448 made (only 586 were produced in all). The fact that is in white gold makes it even more desirable. The estimate is CHF250,000-350,000.

Stay tuned for part two of the preview later today. Visit the Phillips Geneva watch sale page for more information on the sale, including catalogue and bid registration.

IWC has created a unique Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015” for the eponymous event, that will be auctioned with all proceeds going to the Tribeca Film Institute.

Now in its third year as partner of the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), IWC has just unveiled the third edition of the wristwatch for the TFF, the Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015”. A piece unique with a grey dial and red chronograph counters, the Portofino TFF is all the more interesting because it’s the first time the Portofino Monopusher chronograph has made it to market. The watch was revealed briefly at SIHH 2013, then quickly withdrawn. The white gold case has a diameter of 45 mm, with the calibre 59360 visible through the display back. This is based on the calibre 59215 movement found in the Portofino and Portuguese 8 Days, as well as the recent Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary. It’s a hand-wound movement with an eight day power reserve that by design, large and relatively simple. Comprising a big barrel and small balance wheel, the movement was constructed to have ample space for other complications.

So a chronograph mechanism has been added to the movement, with minimal extra height – this is only 1 mm thicker than the time-only 8 Days watch – thanks to the large and flat chronograph parts. Being a single-button chronograph, the mechanism is also takes up less space than if it had the traditional two button layout.  But for reasons that were never publicly revealed, but probably technical in nature, IWC pulled this movement as soon as it was launched, but here it is, two years later. According to my sources the regular production version of the Portofino Monopusher will be launched sometime in the second quarter of this year.

The dial is a dark grey, with bordeaux sub-dials inspired by the colour of the red carpet. Elapsed minutes are recorded in the counter at 12 o’clock, with the central seconds hand for elapsed seconds. The sub-dial at six is a constant seconds.

Christie’s will auction the Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015” via an online sale that runs from 1 to 10 April, with all proceeds going to the non-profit Tribeca Film Insitute. The starting bid is US$30,000.