Watch Auctions 2026 · Hong Kong Auction Week
What You Need to Know
- Three houses, six days: Phillips (21–22 Nov at WKCDA Tower), Christie’s (25–26 Nov at The Henderson, Central) and Bonhams (25 Nov) all convene in Hong Kong within a single auction week
- Phillips leads with five landmark Patek Philippes — including two possibly unique platinum references — alongside four F.P. Journe timepieces led by Mark Cho’s “Parking Meter” Résonance, one of five ever made
- Christie’s marks its 40th year of watch auctions in Asia with “The Iconic 40” evening sale plus a day sale — combined pre-sale estimate HKD 330 million (~USD 42 million)
- Phillips viewing opens 16 November at WKCDA Tower; online and absentee registration is live at phillips.com now
Geneva closed its November week at USD 203 million across four houses — the strongest result since 2015. Within two weeks, the market reconvenes 9,000 kilometres east. Hong Kong’s November 2026 watch auction season runs 21–26 November across three houses, covering the full spectrum of watch collecting: deep-pocketed vintage Patek Philippe at Phillips, a milestone anniversary evening at Christie’s, and a provenance-led sale at Bonhams.
| House | Sale | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips | The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXIII | 21–22 Nov 2026 | WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon |
| Christie’s | The Iconic 40 (Evening) + The Important Watches (Day) | 25–26 Nov 2026 | The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central |
| Bonhams | Echoes of Time: Rare Timepieces from the Pages of History | 25 Nov 2026 | Venue TBC |
Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction XXIII — 21–22 November
Phillips’ biannual Hong Kong sale arrives with 329 lots across two morning sessions at WKCDA Tower. The consignment is anchored by vintage Patek Philippe and an unusually deep pocket of F.P. Journe. For lot-by-lot analysis of the top consignments, see the full Phillips HK XXIII dedicated preview; what follows is the auction week overview.
| Watch | Estimate (HKD) | Estimate (USD approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Patek Philippe Ref. 2499, 1st series, yellow gold | 12M–24M | 1.54M–3.09M |
| Patek Philippe Ref. 3990P-011, platinum, possibly unique | 12M–24M | 1.54M–3.09M |
| Patek Philippe Ref. 1518, pink gold | 8M–16M | 1.03M–2.06M |
| Patek Philippe Ref. 5074P-021, platinum, emerald-set, possibly unique | 5M–10M | 643K–1.29M |
| Patek Philippe Ref. 2481 “Tropics”, pink gold | 5M–10M | 643K–1.29M |
| F.P. Journe Résonance “Parking Meter” (The Armoury, 1 of 5) | 6M–12M | 771K–1.54M |
| F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain, platinum 069/01T | 3.9M–11.6M | 501K–1.49M |
The two headline Pateks share an upper estimate of HKD 24 million. The first-series Ref. 2499 — the benchmark for vintage Patek perpetual calendars — arrives in yellow gold, an unusual metal for a reference more commonly found in pink gold. The Ref. 3990P is rarer still: a platinum annual calendar with moon phases and a possibly unique salmon dial. A comparable first-series 2499 had already cleared CHF 3.4 million in Geneva earlier this month, making the HKD 24 million ceiling (~USD 3.1M) directionally supported by recent market evidence. For context on what sustains vintage blue-chip Patek values, see the investment-grade watch guide.
The story lot of the auction week — arguably of the year — is the F.P. Journe Résonance nicknamed “Parking Meter” for its distinctive coin-slot crown. Commissioned by Hong Kong retailer The Armoury, one of five made, and consigned by its original owner Mark Cho. The watch has never appeared at public auction. F.P. Journe’s secondary market has strengthened materially over the past three years; a provenance piece tied to the most prominent Journe retailer in Asia will draw bidders from both the Journe collecting community and The Armoury’s global network of clients.
Christie’s Hong Kong — 25–26 November
Christie’s marks a milestone this November. Its first Hong Kong watch auction took place in 1986; forty years on, “The Iconic 40” is both a birthday sale and a curatorial statement — 40 lots in an evening format at Christie’s at The Henderson on 25 November. The day sale “The Important Watches” follows on 26 November with a broader consignment across price points. Combined pre-sale estimate across both sessions: HKD 330 million, approximately USD 42 million. Full Christie’s Hong Kong preview with lot detail here.
Both sessions take place at Christie’s at The Henderson — the architecturally distinctive tower at 2 Murray Road, Central, where Christie’s has held its major Asia sales since the building opened. The room works equally well for the focused formality of a 40-lot evening sale and the energy of a full day sale. The Iconic 40 format, limiting the evening to exactly 40 curated lots, also gives the anniversary sale a tighter, more considered feel than a standard evening catalogue.
Bonhams Hong Kong — 25 November
Bonhams rounds out the week with “Echoes of Time: Rare Timepieces from the Pages of History,” taking place on 25 November — the same day as Christie’s evening sale, giving collectors and dealers a full day across venues. The title signals a provenance and historical-narrative focus: movements and dials tied to notable chapters in horology, rather than a trophy-name approach. This sits adjacent to the top-end Phillips and Christie’s consignments but rewards different research. Venue details remain TBC; Bonhams will announce the confirmed location and viewing schedule at bonhams.com shortly.
What the Week Signals for the Market
Hong Kong follows Geneva by twelve days. The record Geneva week confirmed appetite for the best vintage material — particularly Patek Philippe, the independent makers, and pieces with clean auction histories. The October auction wrap had already noted strong Asian bidder participation: Sotheby’s Hong Kong in September set three category records, suggesting the collector base across the region is active and well capitalised.
Hong Kong has a structural advantage for certain lots: the HKD is pegged to the USD at roughly 7.78, so USD-based bidders face no currency risk; buyer’s premium brackets at some houses are more competitive than their Geneva equivalents; and the time zone keeps live bidding accessible for buyers in mainland China, Southeast Asia and Australia without the 2 AM alarm calls that European-timed sales require. If Geneva’s momentum holds, this November HK week — anchored by the Christie’s anniversary angle and Phillips’ depth of Patek and Journe — is well placed to extend it.
How to Register and Bid
Phillips: Register at phillips.com/register. Viewing runs 16–22 November at WKCDA Tower (G/F, No. 8 Austin Road West, West Kowloon Cultural District). Session One opens at 11:00 AM HKT on 21 November (lots 801–958); Session Two at 11:00 AM HKT on 22 November (lots 959–1129). Phone and online bidding are both available. Before bidding on any auction lot, the pre-owned watch buying guide covers what to examine in catalogue condition notes and provenance descriptions.
Christie’s: Register at christies.com. The Henderson is at 2 Murray Road, Central. Viewing preview dates will be announced on the Christie’s events page. The Iconic 40 evening sale begins 25 November; The Important Watches day sale follows 26 November.
Bonhams: Register at bonhams.com. The confirmed venue and full lot catalogue will be published on the Bonhams calendar page ahead of 25 November.
- How do I register to bid at the Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction XXIII?
- Register online at phillips.com/register before the sale. Phone and absentee bids are also accepted. Viewing at WKCDA Tower (G/F, No. 8 Austin Road West, Kowloon) runs 16–22 November 2026. Session One begins at 11:00 AM HKT on 21 November (lots 801–958); Session Two at 11:00 AM HKT on 22 November (lots 959–1129). There is no charge or requirement to register for the in-person viewing.
- What is The Iconic 40 at Christie’s Hong Kong November 2026?
- The Iconic 40 is an evening sale of exactly 40 curated lots celebrating Christie’s 40th anniversary of watch auctions in Asia — Christie’s first Hong Kong watch sale took place in 1986. It takes place on 25 November 2026 at Christie’s at The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central. The day sale The Important Watches follows on 26 November. Combined pre-sale estimate for both sessions is approximately HKD 330 million (about USD 42 million).
- When does the viewing start for the Phillips Hong Kong auction?
- Viewing at Phillips Hong Kong opens on 16 November 2026 — five days before the first session — and runs daily through 22 November at WKCDA Tower, G/F, No. 8 Austin Road West, West Kowloon Cultural District. No registration is required to attend the viewing.
- How does the Hong Kong auction week compare to the November Geneva auctions?
- The November 2026 Geneva week — Phillips, Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Antiquorum across 6–9 November — totalled USD 203 million, the strongest Geneva result since 2015. Hong Kong follows on 21–26 November with three houses, anchored by Phillips’ deep Patek Philippe and F.P. Journe consignment and Christie’s 40th-anniversary Iconic 40 sale. HKD hammer prices are pegged closely to USD at roughly 7.78 to one, so currency risk for USD-based bidders is negligible.
Sources: Phillips The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXIII — official sale overview (accessed 13 November 2026); lot estimates and session details from the Phillips catalogue. Christie’s sale structure and combined estimate from pre-sale announcements. Bonhams sale title and date from pre-sale announcements; venue TBC at time of publication.
