It’s watches galore on the World Wide Web this fall.

Phillips is holding what it says is the most valuable online watch auction ever organized by its New York team from now until October 9. The sale, held in partnership with Bacs & Russo, will include nearly 90 timepieces from independent watchmakers like Kari Voutilainen and F.P.Journe as well as heavyweights such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The auction follows a historic spring at Phillips. The auction house achieved $235.5 million over the past season, selling three watches above $10 million for the first time in industry history. It also set the record for the highest-grossing watch auction ever, notching an unprecedented 74.8 million Swiss francs, or about $96.3 million at the current exchange rate, in Geneva in May.

“This sale reflects the extraordinary momentum we’ve seen throughout the year across our global watch auctions,” Paul Boutros, deputy chairman and head of watches, Americas, at Phillips, said in a statement. “Following a spring season of record-setting results in Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York, collectors remain highly focused on the intersection of independent innovation, blue-chip watchmaking, and exemplary preservation.”

The current online auction includes a selection of fresh-to-market timepieces. The sale is led by an exceptionally rare Voutilainen 28Sport (pictured top). Created by renowned Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, the limited edition combines the classic architecture of a dress watch with a sporty aesthetic. It was released in 2020 as a limited run of just eight pieces in titanium and eight in steel. This particular example is steel and features a striking onyx dial with a blue guilloché hour track. It is possibly one of only two made in this configuration, Phillips says. The watch was expected to fetch between $120,000 and $240,000, though bids are currently sitting at $550,000.

Other highlights include a highly sought-after Patek Philippe Ref. 5270J in yellow gold (estimate: $80,000–$160,000) and a Rolex Daytona Ref. 116506, or “Platona,” featuring a platinum case and an ice blue dial with diamond markers.

“The watches featured in this sale embody those qualities, from an exceptionally rare Voutilainen 28Sport that highlights the enduring appeal of independent watchmaking to landmark references from Patek Philippe and Rolex that continue to define their categories,” adds Boutros. “Together, they make this the strongest online watch auction ever presented by our New York team.”

The 88 lots, with estimates ranging from $2,000 to $240,000, will close roughly a minute apart on October 9. Based on pre-sale high estimates, the auction is expected to realize roughly $3.94 million, but will likely achieve more if that Voutilainen lot is anything to go by.

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  Rachel Cormack

  Digital Editor

  Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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