Highlights from Geneva Watches Online Auction

Released in 1976, the Nautilus was a surprisingly edgy watch produced by one of the most traditional of Swiss manufacturers, Patek Philippe. Yet the mid-1970s was no ordinary time – economic turbulence and the rise of the quartz watch were taking their toll on the traditional watchmaking industry. Despite its avant-garde styling, the Nautilus was also unapologetic in the traditional methods of its production – an early advertisement noted: “In 1839, the founding year of Patek Philippe, finishing a watch entirely by hand was the rule. Today it is the exception.”

Watches

G.O.A.T: The Patek Philippe Nautilus

Developed and patented toward the end of the 18th century by Abraham Louis Breguet, the tourbillon sought to improve accuracy by overcoming the negative effects of gravity to the escapement of a pocket watch. By placing the the escapement in a rotating cage the differences in the running of the watch in various positions is minimised.

In a practical sense the actual benefits of a tourbillon are really limited to pocket watches, in the modern day however they have come to represent something perhaps just as important. It is undoubtedly true that a good tourbillon takes high levels of skill and precision in its construction and so, while with regards to true utility the tourbillon is practically redundant, it has become instead a flourish; a showpiece, demonstrating the virtuosity of the master watchmaker.

In a world where mass production is so simple, especially in the watch industry, there is a special appreciation for those who design and create things themselves. In watchmaking, these independent makers in their small ateliers expertly craft their own watches in, understandably, small numbers. For many it represents the soul of the industry, a face of modern watchmaking that demonstrates innovation and creativity, ensuring that collectors receive a piece they may rightly consider unique to them while at the same time masterfully executed.

The Daytona is one of the world’s most desirable and coveted watches. Its tachymetric calibrated bezel and symmetrical dial layout with three subsidiary counters has dominated the model’s design for more than 50 years. A range of dial designs, from classic monochromatic layouts to the exotic ‘Paul Newman’, have ensured the model’s wide ranging and enduring appeal. In 1988 the model was transformed into an automatic model incorporating the exceptional Zenith El Primero movement, to which Rolex applied some 200 modifications.

Watches

G.O.A.T: The Rolex Daytona

In the days before electronic stop watches, the mechanical chronograph was an essential piece of kit for a diverse range of activities; it was a tool used by motor racing enthusiasts, doctors, scientists, photographers and factory managers. Although today, highly accurate time recording can be achieved electronically, the chronograph remains one of the most popular and sought after of all horological ‘complications’ – indeed, few genres of the watch so visibly display the skill of their maker.

A visionary timepiece that transformed the fortunes of Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak was designed by Gerald Genta and put into production in 1972. The model’s success lies not only in its versatility – the watch is as well matched to a dinner suit as a wetsuit – but also in its future-proofed design. In 1993, an updated and much enlarged version of the model named the ‘Royal Oak Offshore’ was launched, leading the charge for oversized watches that would dominate watch fashions in the 21st century.

Watches

G.O.A.T: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Elaborate gem-set watches had been a feature of wristwatch production for much of the 20th century, yet the radical re-interpretation of watch designs witnessed during the 1960s led to the perfection of the so-called ‘dress’ watch during the last quarter of the 20th century. Textured metal and colourful hardstone dials that were especially fashionable during the 1970s and 1980s, were frequently enhanced by an opulent yet sophisticated framework of pavé-set diamonds. Such luxurious refinement acted to emphasize the exclusivity and exceptional quality of the watchmaker’s art.

Buying a remarkable timepiece from a trusted brand is more possible than ever before. Discover below a wide variety of watches from watchmakers including Patek Philippe, Parmigiani Fleurier and Daniel Roth, as well as an exciting selection of Rolex memorabilia, all offered without reserve.