Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo announces the sale of four exceptional watches from the private collection of Mr. Jean-Claude Biver, which will be offered for sale during the Geneva Watch Auction in May 2020 at Hôtel la Reserve, Geneva.
Jean-Claude Biver, non-executive chairman LVMH Group Watch Division, said: “The beauty of collecting art is that it connects you to eternity. I am proud today through the sale of these exceptional pieces that I am able to share a piece of my eternity. “
These watches' rarity, condition and relevance are a tribute to Jean-Claude Biver's immaculate taste and scholarship. A collector at heart, his collection and his tastes are constantly evolving hence his desire to pass on these watches after more than a decade of ownership. Jean-Claude is more than a titan of the industry, he changed the face of watchmaking as we know it today. His knowledge of classic watchmaking has allowed him to always stay one step ahead and the four watches we have the honor of presenting in our Geneva auction are milestones in the history of watchmaking.
This selection of four Patek Philippe watches they are defined by their historical relevance, superb state of preservation and rarity. They include:
An impressive world reference 96HU from 1937
Each brand can present at least one watch model which, due to its design language or some specific and/or unusual complication, can be considered the embodiment of the company's philosophy. When it comes to Patek Philippe, the world complication is unquestionably one of the brand's "hallmarks". This isn't because Patek Philippe has some kind of monopoly on this complication; on the contrary, many contemporary and vintage watches sport this feature. However, no other brand's world watch has ever stirred such strong feelings in the collecting community.
Patek Philippe introduced its world's first mass-produced wristwatch in 1939 with the reference 1415, but had created a few pre-series and prototype versions in previous years. The present reference 96 is in fact one of these ultra-rare pre-series prototypes of which only two are known, made in 1937 to most likely test the market, making it not only a historically significant watch but also one of the rarest times in the world. world models ever made by Patek Philippe. Unknown to the market, it first appeared in 2011 when it was bought by Mr. Biver. The other example is in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.
- Estimate of CHF 300.000 – 600.000
Reference 1518 in pink gold with a pink dial even rarer than 1948
Monumental model, the reference 1518 was the first ever mass-produced perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch when it was introduced in 1941. According to research, only 281 examples were manufactured until the reference ceased production with a majority made in yellow gold. The rose gold reference 1518 often came with a silver dial. Only on rare occasions were they fitted with pink dials. This variant is so rare that only 13 reference 1518 examples are known with a pink dial, making it one of the most unique complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches a collector can acquire. The current watch appears on the market for only the second time, Mr. Biver is the second owner since new.
- Estimate of CHF 1.200.000 – 2.400.000
An incredibly rare and well preserved second series reference 2499 from 1957
Launched in 1951, the reference 2499 was the direct successor to the reference 1518 and came with sportier round pushers and a larger 37,5mm case. The second series, like the current watch, was offered with applied Arabic numerals or batons and with a tachymeter scale. The second series reference 2499 is so rare that very few examples have graced the international auction market, and in fact only 20 yellow gold examples with applied sticks are known, such as the present example,
- Estimate CHF 1'000'000 – 2'000'000
One of only 3 known platinum Reference 1579 from 1946
This reference of Incredibly attractive and well-preserved 1579 is one of only three vintage Patek Philippe chronographs with a platinum case. It is not known why Patek Philippe decided to use platinum for this reference and only for three watches, but it is interesting to note that the three watches have consecutive serial numbers and different dials, making each piece unique. The present watch is the last of the three made and differs from the other two with its scale and markers in blue, giving the watch an incredibly vivid modernist appeal.
- Estimate CHF 800'000 – 1'600'000
