New York, 11 May 2026 - Phillips has announced The New York Watch Auction: XIV, a flagship live sale taking place on 13 to 14 June at 432 Park Avenue, with a public exhibition open from 10 to 12 June. Concluding the company's spring watch auctions in its 230th anniversary year, the sale carries the highest estimate for a New York watch auction in Phillips' history. It is led by the two-tone F.P. Journe Souscription Résonance No. 007 with pink gold dial, and brings together an extraordinary selection of collectors' timepieces spanning vintage and modern legacy brands alongside the most sought-after watches from today's leading independent makers, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, Roger Smith, and Urban Jürgensen.
Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas, and Isabella Proia, Head of Sale and Senior International Specialist, said the auction "brings together an extraordinary selection of collectors' timepieces, spanning vintage and modern legacy brands alongside the most sought-after watches from today's leading independent makers." They described the cover lot, the F.P. Journe Souscription Résonance No. 007, as "one of only two made in this configuration and one of the most important Journe timepieces to appear at auction," adding that "with this watch likely being the only example of its kind to ever be obtainable, this auction represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our collecting community." Many of the offerings are fresh to the market, appearing at auction for the first time.
The cover lot
The sale is led by Lot 10, the F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription, No. 007, an extremely rare pink gold and platinum dual time wristwatch with resonating escapements and pink gold dial, number 7 of a 20 piece subscription series, estimated in excess of $1 million. When the Geneva watchmaker François-Paul Journe unveiled the Chronomètre à Résonance in 2000, he created a wristwatch with two independent oscillators beating in sympathetic resonance to regulate each other for greater chronometric stability. The earliest Souscription pieces, numbered 001 to 020, were reserved for the original clients who financed the birth of the manufacture. The present No. 007 is one of only two known examples in a platinum and pink gold case with pink gold dial, the first to appear publicly and likely the only such example obtainable, with the second believed to be owned by Journe himself. The sale arrives amid surging demand for F.P. Journe, underscored by Phillips' December sale, which set a new record for a timepiece by the watchmaker.
Patek Philippe rarities and American provenance
A world class selection of Patek Philippe watches anchors the offering, including the previously announced museum-quality reference 1518 in pink gold. Lot 88 is a most probably unique white gold reference 5004G-020 perpetual calendar split-seconds chronograph with "rose" dial, formerly in the collection of Eric Clapton, CBE, estimated at $700,000 to $1,400,000. The 5004, produced between 1994 and 2010, was the manufacture's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph with split-seconds, and white gold examples are believed to number just 27 pieces. Lot 42, a reference 5070G-014 chronograph with salmon dial made for the 2015 Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London, is estimated at $350,000 to $700,000, while Lot 100, a first series reference 3970 perpetual calendar chronograph from 1987 with a rare German calendar, carries an estimate of $200,000 to $400,000.
Rolex, independents, and the Nautilus at 50
Among the vintage Rolex highlights is Lot 31, a "Paul Newman" Cosmograph Daytona "John Player Special" in 14K yellow gold, reference 6241, estimated at $700,000 to $1,400,000, one of a trio of "Paul Newman" Daytonas in the sale. The independents are led by Lot 79, an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Anniversaire Historique "T30" numbered 93 of 99 pieces, estimated at $600,000 to $1,200,000, and Lot 77, a most probably unique Roger Smith Series 3 "Unique Piece" in pink gold, estimated at $300,000 to $600,000. Lot 20, a unique Urban Jürgensen Tourbillon Minute Repeater "Prototype," is estimated at $120,000 to $240,000, and Lot 63, a Cartier Crash in platinum, at $150,000 to $300,000. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Nautilus, the sale also presents an extraordinary range of vintage and modern examples, alongside an unparalleled selection of watches by the independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.
Selected highlights and estimates
The sale arrives as Phillips marks its 230th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1796 by the auctioneer Harry Phillips, the house specializes in Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels, and through its partnership with Bacs & Russo continues to lead the industry in watches. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, its DECADE ONE (2015 to 2025) sale having realized $83 million in 2025, while the annual total for watch auctions in 2025 exceeded $290 million.
Estimates do not include buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium.
(Press Release)
