A historical result for an auction of one collection of 4 363 Swatch’s watches

Something truly amazing happened in Hong Kong! One of the most complete collections of Swatch watches in the world, which reflects the outstanding story of Swatch, was sold at a historical amount of HK$ 51’707’500 .The Blum Collection was assembled over many years by Swiss businessman Peter Blum and his wife Linda, passionate collectors of Swatch watches since the brand’s early days. The exceptional assembly comprises some 4,363 watches, including a large number of prototypes, hybrids and production variants never brought to market. Many of the prototypes date from the extraordinary period prior to commercialisation of the first Swatch watches in the early 1980s, and are thus extremely rare. Among the most interesting and sought-after by collectors are a number of prototypes designed by the American artist Keith Haring, as well as the artist’s legendary Swatch watches Modele avec Personnage, Milles Pattes, Serpent and Blanc sur Noir. Additional rarities include Swatch watches created by artists Mimmo Paladino, Alfred Hofkunst and Sam Francis.

Handled by the noted art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company, this one-of-a-kind auction attracted considerable interest during pre-sale showings in New York, London and Shanghai, where it was exhibited at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, the restored cultural landmark and art hotel on the Bund. Art auction expert Simon de Pury set the stage for a highly emotional Swatch event with the choice of a prestigious venue in one of China’s most dynamic and spectacular cities. With its own long-term relationship and commitment to art, Swatch is proud to have seen today’s auction hosted in China, a country with a notable artistic heritage and a vibrant relationship to the arts today. The Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong formed a perfect setting for what turned out to be the most amazing sale of Swatch watches ever sold as single lot for
HK$ 51’707’500.

About Swatch
Swatch is a company of the Swatch Group, which is the world’s number one maker of finished watches. Group companies sell watches under nineteen different brands and the multibrand Tourbillon retail mark. Swatch, launched in 1983 by Nicolas G. Hayek and operating today under the presidency of Arlette-Elsa Emch, Swatch is a leading Swiss watch maker and one of the world’s most fashionable brands. The first Swatch watches surprised everyone with their provocative spirit and creative design and proved enormously successful. Always at the forefront of popular fashion, Swatch continues to innovate and surprise with new collections and special editions. Right from the start, Swatch connected with popular culture and the arts and remains today a highly visible canvas for world-famous artists and fashion designers, who continue to create art for the brand under the motto “Swatch & Art”.

About Phillips de Pury
Founded in London in 1796, Phillips de Pury & Company is an international art company that conducts auctions of Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions and Jewelry, as well as private sales and selling exhibitions. As the only international auction house to concentrate on contemporary culture, Phillips de Pury & Company has established a position within the art world as the contemporary tastemaker conducting sales and exhibitions in New York and London.