Four rare Patek Philippe watches belonging to Jean-Claude Biver are up for grabs
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Four rare Patek Philippe watches belonging to Jean-Claude Biver are upward for grabs
Come May 9, the quartet of vintage Patek Philippe timepieces from watch industry legend Jean-Claude Biver will be auctioned in Geneva. Highlights include a image from 1937 and the world's first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch.
Jean-Claude Biver is a veteran of the spotter trade, with 45 years of feel under his belt. (Photograph: Phillips)
05 Mar 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 21 May 2022 xi:25AM)
Jean-Claude Biver doesn't really need an introduction. Simply if he did, his achievements would include the revival of brands similar Blancpain and Hublot, the modern success of Omega and TAG Heuer, and arguably being the saviour of the mechanical watchmaking manufacture.
This force of nature, who is currently the non-executive president of the LVMH Group Lookout man Division, may not need that introduction, but his fabled spotter collection evidently did, which is why auction house Phillips put together the Jean-Claude Biver: A Retrospective travelling exhibit late concluding yr, featuring some two dozen highlights from his personal collection.
These included a Philippe Dufour Simplicity in rose gold, a Zenith-driven Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520 and a Hublot Large Blindside Tourbillon Chronograph. All stunning timepieces, all of which weren't for sale. Until now, that is.
On May 9 at the Hotel La Reserve in Geneva, Phillips will be helping Biver auction four of his watches from the exhibition, with a total estimation of CHF 6.5 million (S$nine.iv million). If the provenance isn't enticing enough in its own right, know that the watches are 4 exceptionally rare, superbly maintained vintage Patek Philippe references that volition surely elevate whatsoever collection.
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REF. 96HU WORLD Fourth dimension
Prototypes are rare enough, simply prototypes of watches that were among the first of its kind are basically unicorns.
And that's what the Ref. 96HU (where HU stands for Heures Universelles, significant World Time) is. It was 1 Louis Cottier who developed the complication for wristwatches in 1931, and he reached out to brands similar Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Agassiz and Rolex for their interest.
Patek Philippe obviously jumped at the chance, and produced 2 prototypes in 1937 – two years before the series-produced Ref. 1415 launched. Biver got his easily on this piece dorsum in 2011, where it sold for CHF 411,000 by Christie'southward. The merely other known example of this reference resides in the Patek Philippe Museum.
Estimated price: CHF 300,000 to CHF 600,000
REF. 1579 IN PLATINUM FROM THE 1950S
If it'south pure scarcity that volition help loosen those purse strings, prepare your paddle for this particular Ref. 1579.
Its hefty 36mm size makes information technology endearingly large for a vintage watch and the spider lugs certainly add some personality to this hand-wound chronograph. But it'south that platinum casing that makes this model exceptional: At that place are simply three of them, each with a unique dial. Biver's, which is the third and terminal in the series, is distinguished by a blueish tachymeter scale.
Estimated toll: CHF 800,000 to CHF one.6 million
REF. 1518 WITH PINK Punch
The Ref. 1518 has the honour of existence the world's commencement perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, first launched in serial in 1941. Simply 281 of them made it out of the factory in the model's x-year lifespan, with a majority cased in yellow gold with silver dials.
That this is a pink gilt version with a pink face, believed to be i of simply thirteen fabricated, gives this piece an understandably high estimate. Just its steel sibling can beat out it in terms of rarity, having gone for CHF11 million at auction in 2016. But this rosy 1518 deserves extra credit for its superb condition, and the fact that Biver is only the second person to take owned information technology.
Estimated price: CHF 1.ii 1000000 to CHF 2.4 million
REF. 2499 FROM 1957
The successor to the storied Ref. 1518 is, surprisingly, considered even more collectible, likely attributable to its less diminutive case size (37.5mm instead of 35mm, which is gigantic for a vintage watch) and the fact that it was produced in iv series, each with its ain distinctive characteristics.
Biver'due south Ref. 2499 belongs to the 2nd Series, which is easily distinguished by its round chronograph pushers rather than square ones and the presence of a tachymeter scale, the latter of which is missing from the Third and Fourth Series.
What drives upwards the guess of this particular model is the combination of a yellow aureate case with applied baton markers, as Arabic numerals were more than commonly seen. There are quite possibly just 20 examples of these out there.
Estimated cost: CHF ane million to CHF two million.
6 FAST FACTS Well-nigh THE LIVING LEGEND
Still oasis't a clue who Jean-Claude Biver is? Here are some highlights from his 45 years in the world of watchmaking.
1. HE Cutting HIS TEETH AT AUDEMARS PIGUET
Under then-CEO Georges Golay, Biver's first year at Audemars Piguet came with only a half-salary and no role, phone line or business organisation cards. His only job was to observe the watchmakers and learn the heritage, art and craft involved. He left after four years, hungry for promotion.
2. HE REVIVED BLANCPAIN FROM INSIDE A CAMPER VAN
Afterward spending CHF 22,000 to purchase the nearly forgotten Blancpain proper name with his friend Jacques Piguet in 1980, the two barely had whatsoever money left. When visiting clients or exhibiting at Baselworld, they had to slumber in a camper van and shower at petrol stations. Their first watch fair didn't even accept any pieces on display, only the slogan: "Since 1735 at that place has never been a quartz Blancpain scout. And there never will be."
3. HE Most DIED
On 16 November 1996, Biver was hospitalised after a bout of astringent coughing followed past extreme back hurting, chills and a high fever. He was later diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, a form of potentially lethal pneumonia. He claims the experience has taught him to be more patient.
4. HE CONSIDERED LEAVING THE Watch INDUSTRY
Subsequently taking a leave of absence from the Swatch Group in 2004, Biver very briefly worked with a friend in the pharmaceutical business concern. But the devastating realisation of how much he missed horology afterward a brief visit to Baselworld that year — where he was only a guest and not an exhibitor — prompted him to return to watchmaking.
v. DON'T CALL HIM AT WORK
Rather than waste time saying also many things no one's going to remember, Biver would rather his staff electronic mail him, and to keep those emails no longer than a quarter of a page.
half dozen. HE MAKES EXCELLENT GRUYERE
Biver bought a farm close to Montreux, in the Swiss Alps, in 2002, and has been making cheese as a hobby. The five tonnes a twelvemonth he makes usually end upward as gifts but the El Paradiso eating place in St Moritz is said to stock his cheese because they wanted to serve a "Biver fondue".
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