Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XXIV achieved US$ 112.3 million across 217 lots — the first live watch auction to surpass US$ 100 million. Full results for Middle East collectors.
The Bottom Line
- All 217 lots sold at CHF 92,045,568 (US$ 112,277,184) on 7 and 8 November 2026, making The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV the first live watch auction in history to surpass US$ 100 million, with an average per lot exceeding US$ 500,000.
- 24 world records set across F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Rolex, Voutilainen, and the Harry Winston Opus series.
- 13 F.P. Journe watches alone totalled CHF 31.8 million, led by the Chronomètre à Résonance “Régence” at CHF 8,680,500.
- Bidders from 69 countries registered, competing in the room, by telephone, and online.
How the Record Was Built
On 8 November 2026, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo closed a two-day, 217-lot sale at CHF 92 million, surpassing the previous benchmark the house itself had set just six months earlier. Every lot found a buyer — a white-glove result at this scale is without precedent in the market.
Senior Consultant Aurel Bacs, addressing the room, observed: “I always believed that watches deserved a place on the Mount Olympus of collecting.” Alexandre Ghotbi, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Europe and Middle East, and Tiffany To, Senior International Watch Specialist and Head of Sale, added: “To achieve the first ever $100 million watch auction is an extraordinary milestone. It is a celebration of the strength and vitality of the market, and of the exceptional auction we have had the privilege of putting together.”
The Lots That Drove the Number
Seventeen lots exceeded CHF 1 million. The F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance “Régence” in platinum, lot 7, is the sole example carrying a shiny pink gold hand-engraved dial; it realised CHF 8,680,500 after competition across the room, the phones, and online. That result marks the fifth consecutive Phillips live auction at which a single watch exceeded US$ 10 million.
The Patek Philippe Ref. 1436 split-seconds chronograph in stainless steel — one of only two known examples retaining their original steel case-and-dial configuration — achieved CHF 6,267,000, a world record for any split-seconds chronograph. The Cartier Portico Mystery Clock No. 4, created in 1924 and one of only six Porticos, sold for CHF 4,815,000 on its first auction appearance since 1996, setting a world record for any Cartier timepiece.
Among independent makers, Philippe Dufour’s early platinum Simplicity reached CHF 1,968,500, while Voutilainen’s tantalum Vingt-8 Inversé realised CHF 1,524,000, a world record for the reference. Sylvain Pinaud’s Origine No. 2 sold online at CHF 609,600 — over five times its high estimate.
Where This Places Phillips in the Market
Phillips’ annual watch auction total for 2025 had already surpassed US$ 290 million, the fifth consecutive year the department exceeded US$ 200 million. The XXIV result accelerates that trajectory. For collectors across the Gulf who follow the Geneva auction calendar alongside Geneva Watch Days and Watches and Wonders, the November sale cements Phillips as the dominant venue for high-value single timepieces.
The 2,121 registered bidders from 69 countries, the depth of competition on independent pieces, and the growing appetite for precision pocket watches all indicate that the market for genuine rarities — exceptional condition, unusual configurations, documented provenance — remains structurally strong. The question for consignors and buyers based in the Middle East is not whether Geneva can sustain these levels, but which category of rarity will define the next record.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the total achieved at Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XXIV?
The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV achieved CHF 92,045,568, equivalent to US$ 112,277,184 or € 100,780,693, across 217 lots sold on 7 and 8 November 2026 at Hotel President, Geneva.
Which watch sold for the highest price at Phillips Geneva 2026?
The F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance 'Régence' in platinum, the only example with a shiny pink gold hand-engraved dial, led the sale at CHF 8,680,500 (US$ 10,588,474).
Was the Cartier world record set at Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XXIV genuine?
The Cartier Portico Mystery Clock No. 4, created in 1924 and one of only six Porticos, achieved CHF 4,815,000 on its first auction appearance since 1996, setting a world auction record for any Cartier timepiece.
Can collectors in the Middle East bid at Phillips Geneva watch auctions?
Phillips accepts bids in the room, by telephone, and online. The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV drew 2,121 registered bidders from 69 countries; collectors based in the Middle East can register and participate through the same channels for future sales.
How many world records were set at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XXIV?
The sale set 24 world records, including records for the F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance 'Régence', the Patek Philippe Ref. 1436 split-seconds chronograph, the Voutilainen Vingt-8 Inversé, the Rolex Ref. 3830 'Verga', and any Cartier timepiece at auction.
