Collectable Watches at Phillips Auction: Rolex, FP Journe, Roger Smith, A. Lange & Sohne

The auction will be led by a spectacular pocket watch George Daniels Tourbillon – the fourth watch ever produced by Daniels, widely considered the most important watchmaker of the 20th century - it's a Rolex ref 6241 Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman “John Player Special.”

Spectacular pocket watch with tourbillon Daniels' one-minute watch with escapement chronometer (the escapement is a mechanical linkage in clocks and mechanical watches that drives the timekeeping element), the fourth timepiece Daniels ever created. Belonging to the rare, very first series of eight pocket watches entirely handmade by Daniels for collectors between the years 1969 and 1974, they demonstrate his superlative genius and innovation, creating watches appreciated for their elegance, harmony and uniqueness. These commissions were a turning point in his career and, like his early watches, are wonderful representations of the excellence of his workmanship and commitment to achieving the best possible. Measuring an impressive 62mm in diameter,"Edward Hornby” is both an artistic and technical masterpiece. Its namesake was a lawyer and watch collector who started his collection in the 30s. Hornby allegedly bought the current lot directly from Daniels in 1971. “The Edward Hornby” is a tour de force in watchmaking. Every part was created by hand, with the exception of the balance spring and glass, and is masterfully finished to a level rarely seen in any other watch.

Among some of the most iconic and prestigious wrist chronographs admired by collectors is the line of watches Rolex Daytona. The Daytona model has a long history and a symbiotic relationship between the Geneva watchmaker and the fast-paced world of motorsports. Nicknamed “John Player Special“, the current watch is an extremely rare variant of the “Paul Newman” model. A requirement for wristwatches was durability, precision and legibility, but over time the Daytona has become more of a revered status symbol than a true wristwatch. In the 60s, however, gold models were extremely rare. The reference 6241 was produced from approximately 1966 to 1969 and was among the rarest of all Daytona models ever produced. Research indicates that fewer than 300 examples were coated in 18K yellow gold, and with the “John Player Special” “Paul Newman” model, far fewer are known. Never before publicly offered, the exceptional state of preservation, extraordinary aesthetics and rarity of this model make it one of the most exciting and beautiful examples of the reference 6241 to be offered for auction.

A newly released second gold reference 6241 Daytona, this example encased in 14-karat yellow gold and fitted with a Gorgeous champagne colored “Paul Newman” dial. Delivered directly from the original owner and preserved in superb overall condition, this beauty has been stashed and unworn for decades as recounted by the original owner in his provenance letter. As general manager of AAR Corp in the 60s, he was awarded this yellow gold 6241 as a reward for outstanding annual performance. He wore it for a while until he put it away in a drawer, having only recently discovered its current value. It came with the original Rolex strap and buckle and remains completely original - a trophy watch for the most discerning connoisseur.

Other previously unknown reference 6239 with blue pulse dial and “Daytona” logo red float – only the second example found with this exact dial. Part of an extremely small batch of Daytonas made for doctors, one notable design element is the modified dial layout, due to the space taken up by the pulse scale. One might think that the balance was simply added to an existing production dial from a standard reference 6239 from this period. Instead, the features have been intentionally repositioned, demonstrating that this dial variant was designed to feature the pulse scale from its inception. This example features a black chronograph hand, as opposed to the regular silver hands, and white sub-dial for better readability, crucial for a doctor taking his patient's pulse. The red “Daytona” logo found on this example closely resembles the i first “Cherry logo” dials seen in this era. This custom configuration fits seamlessly into the design language of the Cosmograph Daytona, past and present, retaining all the visually pleasing yet sensitive characteristics of the product line admired by collectors.

Richard Mille launched its first watch in 2001 and has since remained faithful to three key concepts, which have helped to redefine modern watchmaking: the best technical innovations, the best art and architecture, combined with the best watchmaking tradition of craftsmanship. Two industries that influenced his designs were motorsports and the aerospace industry. This very rare RM022 dual time tourbillon hand-wound is a masterpiece of engineering and technology with a case created from carbon nanotubes injected into a black polymer. The result is an extremely durable material that is 200 times stronger than steel, while still being very light. The dial is also futuristic, made from a new alloy, orthorhombic titanium aluminides, which has been shaped into a honeycomb structure. The material has been tested by NASA for use on supersonic aircraft wings thanks to its resistance to high temperatures and torsion. Produced in only five specimens, the RM022 by Richard Mille it is an elegant streamlined timepiece that showcases the brand's will to create 21st century wristwatches with a contemporary aesthetic. Phillips is proud to present this limited edition model, with a case that measures slightly larger and with more presence than the standard RM022 model.

In 2000, FP Journe took the watchmaking world by surprise with the introduction of the first wristwatch incorporating two resonant escapements, which, when synchronized, result in exceptional timekeeping accuracy. The current first generation model in platinum with a superb white gold dial eloquently embodying Journe's inimitable style both in terms of aesthetics and technical mastery. Made from 2000 to 2005, the first generation Resonance models, like this lot, are equipped with rhodium-plated brass movements and 38 mm case. It is in extremely well-preserved condition and shows very few signs of careful wear. The case is sharp, with perfectly sharp hallmarks and engravings on the caseback. It is also complete, accompanied by its original guarantee and multilevel wooden presentation box.

In 1845, Ferdinand Adolph Lange established his own workshop in Glashütte, Saxony which flourished for almost 100 years until the factories were sadly destroyed on the last day of World War II. Decades later, in 1990, Ferdinand's great-grandson re-established the Glashütte-based brand. The first collection of four watches – Lange 1, Arkade and Saxonia, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon – was launched in 1994, revitalizing German watchmaking and leading to global brand recognition. Of the four, the most complicated and technically aligned with the pre-WWII Lange & Söhne manufacture was the Pour Le Mérite, the world's first wristwatch to incorporate a cast chain for greater precision. The precision of the movements, the quality of the finish and the Teutonic design principles have been well received by collectors and the present example is one of only 24 known crafted in pink gold. This particularly rare specimen combines two unusual factory-original elements: a brushed bracelet and the replacement of the vertical Arabic numerals for the hour markers with faceted diamond markers.