SJX Watches
Highlights: Independent Watchmaking at Phillips Hong Kong
With the Geneva auctions just concluded, the sale season moves to Hong Kong, where Phillips’ The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII happens over two days on May 24 and 25. The sentiment evident in Geneva will likely continue in Hong Kong as well, which might mean more value buys and in a handful of instances, outright bargains. We round up some of the highlights of independent watchmaking in the sale, ranging from prime examples that are more affordable than before, like a pair of F.P. Journe with brass movements, to more esoteric watches like an IWC decorated by Jochen Benzinger to a Paul Gerber retrograde seconds with double rotors. The Hong Kong auction takes place on May 24 (lots 801-934) and May 25 (lots 935-1083), and the online catalogue is here. When brass is more valuable than gold 865 – F.P. Journe Résonance, brass movement This is a fine example of perhaps the quintessential F.P. Journe – a Resonance from 2002 with a platinum case, white gold dial, and brass movement. It is not the rarest variant of the model, which fortunately makes it relatively more affordable. Even now, over 20 years since the original Resonance was introduced, I am not entirely sure the early examples are mechanically perfect going by personal experience. But they are undoubtedly important watches from a significant brand. Watches from this period have an intrinsic appeal that the more polished later watches lack. Certainly less refined than the subsequent watches with gold movements, e...
