The Geneva Fall auction season saw significant activity, with Phillips achieving a record-breaking "white glove" sale totaling $112.3 million. A notable focus was the F.P. Journe market, which experienced drama surrounding the classification of a Pre-Production Résonance (022/99R) and a subsequent sale for CHF 7.1 million ($10.5 million USD). Despite market fluctuations and internal brand discussions about demand, other F.P. Journe pieces, like a Vagabondage III, also achieved remarkable prices.
- Phillips achieved a "white glove" sale of $112.3 million.
- F.P. Journe Pre-Production Résonance 022/99R sold for CHF 7.1 million ($10.5 million USD).
- F.P. Journe Vagabondage III (1 of 10 in platinum with diamonds) sold for CHF 5,057,000 ($6.15 million USD).
The F.P. Journe 022/99R was initially presented as the first Pre-Production Résonance sold, a claim later disputed by François-Paul Journe himself.
Shawn Mehta, head of F.P. Journe's London boutique, was the winning bidder for the 022/99R at CHF 4.93 million, later increasing his bid to CHF 7 million before losing to a phone bidder at CHF 7.1 million.
The F.P. Journe Patrimony service announced the sale of 024/99R, another Pre-Souscription watch from the same year, though it was later withdrawn from sale.
A unique Regency-dial F.P. Journe Résonance sold for CHF 7.1 million ($10.5 million USD) after a bidding war involving Shawn Mehta and a phone bidder.
An F.P. Journe Vagabondage III, number 1 of 10 in platinum with diamonds, sold for CHF 5,057,000 ($6.15 million USD), a significant increase from a previous sale of one in January for $1.2 million.
Phillips' "white glove" sale achieved $112.3 million, with 17 lots exceeding CHF 1 million, featuring brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, F.P. Journe, Harry Winston, Voutilainen, and Philippe Dufour.
Sotheby's and Christie's appear to be shifting focus towards New York auctions, while Christie's also achieved a "white glove" sale in Geneva, totaling $58 million.