Record $112 Million Phillips Geneva Auction Driven by Volume and Rare Watches
Phillips’ Geneva Watch Auction XXIV achieved a record CHF 92 million ($112.3 million), with all 217 lots sold, an average price above $500,000, and 24 world auction records. The total more than doubled the comparable May 2025 sale, as 17 lots exceeded CHF 1 million despite rare-watch prices showing signs of plateauing. F.P. Journe led the sale, bringing in CHF 31.8 million across 13 lots; its platinum Chronomètre à Résonance “Régence” sold for $10.59 million. Other notable results included $7.64 million for a Patek Philippe Ref. 1436, $5.87 million for a Cartier mystery clock, and $2.4 million for a Philippe Dufour Simplicity. The sale reflects sustained demand for exceptional watches amid economic and political headwinds, following a year of multiple eight-figure auction results.
Buying Time Analysis: Phillips Geneva’s record $112.3 million sale, driven by higher lot volume and strong demand for rare watches, signals that the high-end auction market remains resilient and that eight-figure watch sales are becoming more frequent.
