Fit For a King

Success attracts attention. Phillips auctioneers hit the headlines late last year with the sale of an inscribed Rolex Daytona once owned by Paul Newman – which went under the hammer for a record USD17.8million. The historic result may, perhaps, be echoed with Phillips’ next seismic lot – a watch belonging to Elvis Presley, who accomplished a fair few records of his own. The Omega, once presented to The King himself, is up at auction in Geneva next month. There are 44 round brilliant diamonds set upon the bezel of the 33mm, Swiss-made timepiece. It contains the manual-wound Omega Calibre 510, and is stamped with OXG (which represents the import code for the United States). Its dial features a seconds indicator with a sub-dial at six o’clock. Paul Boutros, Phillips Strategic Advisor and Head of Americas, explains the significance of the timepiece. “This watch, purchased by RCA Records from Tiffany & Co. and presented to the singer in 1961, celebrates a significant milestone not only in Elvis’ career but in the history of music. According to our research, Elvis was the first artist in history to sell 75 million records, and this wristwatch has a remarkable caseback engraving to honour the milestone: ‘To Elvis 75 Million Records RCA Victor 12-25-60’.” With celebrity-associated sales, provenance is of paramount concern – proving a celebrity wore the associated auction piece is often a challenge. In this instance, there’s crystal clear proof. Isabella Proia of Phillips Watches delved into the history of the Omega, writing, “RCA arranged a laudatory charity luncheon and concert not only to award Elvis for such a significant achievement, but also to re-establish him as a performer. The incredible provenance of this historic timepiece is furthermore confirmed by photos of Presley

It has one of the most fascinating provenances to ever appear on the market

wearing the watch at the charitable concert that followed the luncheon, as well as certificates of authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum.” Presley, known for his generosity, gave the watch to someone close to him. “According to a statement made by the owner of the present lot, part and parcel with Elvis’ modus operandi with his personal watches is that the watch was given to the current owner’s uncle after he had expressed his admiration,” writes Proia. “This lot is accompanied with a book that contains photos of Elvis wearing this watch, as well as certificates of authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum,” adds Boutros. “Without a doubt, it’s a superb vintage Omega timepiece with one of the most fascinating provenances to ever appear on the market.” Its authenticity is certain to ramp up interest, if not the final sale price, and it is not the first instance of an Elvis-worn Omega is going under the hammer in recent years. In June 2012, a rare, black-dial Omega Constellation Calendar (with an automatic chronometre movement, steel case and rose-gold plating), was sold by Antiquorum in New York. It too generated substantial excitement; pre-sale estimates hovered around the USD15,000 mark, but once bidding was over the figure had escalated to USD52,500. Similarly, Phillips’ ‘Elvis Omega’ may be listed at a USD60,000 starting price, but its final figure could escalate; Newman’s timepiece obliterated the original list price of USD1 million. This uncertain final sales amount will be settled in Geneva next month. One thing is for certain: the winning bidder of this one-of-a-kind Calibre 510 will send auction rivals all the way to Heartbreak Hotel. Geneva Watch Auction: Seven, by Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, is on 12-13 May. phillips.com

WORDS : CHRIS UJMA