GENEVA 6/7TH NOVEMBER 2022 - Another world record price for a British wristwatch and new high watermark prices for George Daniels/Roger Smith collaboration pieces. Those were the headlines for another historic auction by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI.
14 November, 2022Expectations were very high in the lead up to the latest Geneva Watch Auction, and as has been the case in recent years, what might have seemed hyperbole before the auction proved relatively modest compared to the actual prices achieved at hammer.
Leading the auction was the Spring Case Tourbillon wristwatch in yellow gold by George Daniels. This unique piece, made entirely by hand according to The Daniels Method, also has the cachet of having been George’s ‘daily wearer’ and a watch that was influential in the acceptance and industrialisation of his co-axial escapement. Indeed, after an intense bidding war, this historic masterpiece (which was estimated at CHF 1 million at pre-sale), finally sold for CHF 4,083,500 (£3,616,900), setting a new record for the highest price ever achieved for a wristwatch by a British maker.
In a rare sale, two examples of the collaborations between George Daniels and Roger Smith also achieved new highs. A yellow gold Anniversary wristwatch (limited to 35 pieces) sold for CHF 693,000 (£613,815), while a yellow gold Millennium wristwatch (limited to 48 pieces) set a new record price of CHF 828,600 (£733,920).
Roger had been very closely involved in the build up to the auction, having provided an ‘In Conversation’ at Phillips London preview on October 20th, as well as contributing to a special short film commissioned by Phillips to tell the story of the Spring Case Tourbillon.
Roger said; “Beyond the outstanding prices, what is particularly gratifying to me is the recognition they represent for George Daniels, for British watchmaking and, more broadly, for independent watchmakers like myself.”
Video link
You can watch the film commissioned by Phillips about the Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon here.