Including The Marlon Brando Rolex GMT-Master, The Jack Nicklaus Rolex Day-Date, A Rare Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, an Urwerk UR-105 CT worn by Robert Downey Jr., and moreStephen Silver Fine Jewelry, Silicon Valley’s foremost retailer of rare luxury timepieces, has partnered with the leading auction house for collectors’ timepieces of the highest quality, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, to present a one-day timepiece exhibition on November 18, 2019 at Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry in Menlo Park, the first exhibition of its kind to come to the San Francisco market. The tightly curated exhibition offers the Bay Area’s only chance to see history-making timepieces owned by icons and game changers that have changed the course of watchmaking and collecting before they are being offered for sale on December 10. Phillips’ inaugural New York watch sale broke the record for a wrist watch at auction when the Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona Ref. 6239 sold for $17,752,500 USD in 2017. The exceptional timepieces coming to Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry on November 18 include The Marlon Brando Apocalypse Now Rolex GMT-Master, The Jack Nicklaus Rolex DayDate, and an Urwerk UR-105 CT worn by Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man character in the blockbuster 2019 film Avengers: Endgame. Other extremely rare, iconic, and unique collectors’ models from leading brands including Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Rolex, each an outlier in terms of provenance, condition, and rarity.
Jared Silver, himself a collector and the leading watch expert overseeing the growth of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry since 2018, was keen to partner with Phillips, reasserting Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry’s position as Silicon Valley’s preeminent retailer of ultra-luxurious, highly rare, and collectible timepieces.
Jared Silver, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry President: “Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry has always specialized in the precious and the priceless, so it was only natural to partner with Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, the worldwide market leader in watch auctions. With this one-day GAME CHANGERS exhibition, our local network of Silicon Valley collectors can get a first look at these phenomenal timepieces and contemplate their bids before these watches go on to auction later this year.”
Paul Boutros, Phillips' Head of Watches, Americas, said, "GAME CHANGERS is one of the strongest sales that our team has had the privilege of assembling. We look forward to kicking off our world tour this month and welcoming the San Francisco Bay public to view these exceptional timepieces exclusively at Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry."
Several of the lots will benefit important charities across the world, including the Rolex watch owned by Jack Nicklaus, proceeds of which will benefit the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, and the Marlon Brando Rolex, benefitting his daughter Petra’s children’s charity. A unique TAG Heuer Monaco Piece d'Art will be sold to benefit United Way of New York City, a unique Vacheron Constantin Overseas will support the National Geographic Society, and an Urwerk UR-105 CT worn by Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man character in the blockbuster 2019 film Avengers: Endgame, being sold to benefit Random Act Funding.
About Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is a Silicon-Valley based gemologist, geologist, diamonteer, and philanthropist. Over the course of the last 39 years, Silver has established a reputation amongst his global network of jewelry industry contacts and elite gemstone collectors for his expertise in diamond and color gemstone cutting and jewelry design. Intrigued by science and minerals from a young age, Silver studied geology at San Diego State University and earned a Graduate Gemologist degree from GIA. Stephen began his career in Los Angeles at one of the largest diamond and colored gemstone grading, cutting, and sorting operations in the world. Returning to the San Francisco Bay Area where he spent his youth, Silver founded an estate jewelry firm specializing in antiques and precious stones. There, he gained access to a number of history’s most important colored gems, including the famous Cullinan Blue Diamond necklace. He went on to purchase this historic piece and donate to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Joined by son and Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry President Jared Silver, Stephen Silver expanded his business into a vertically integrated wholesale manufacture and retail operation of international reach, with two locations based in and around Menlo Park, California. Beyond his renown as a gemstone and jewelry expert, Stephen is also recognized in Silicon Valley for his extensive philanthropic work, having donated millions in recent years to causes in his community. For more information, visit www.shsilver.com.
About Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo
The team of specialists at Phillips Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service, achieving a sale total of $108 million in 2018 - its third consecutive year as the worldwide market leader in watch auctions. A selection of their recent record-breaking prices include:
1. Paul Newman's Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona reference 6239 (CHF 17,709,894 /US$17,752,500)- New York Auction: Winning Icons - 26 October 2017 - Highest result ever achieved for any wristwatch at auction.
2. Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel (CHF 11,020,000 /US$11,112,020)- Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR -12 November 2016 - Highest result ever achieved for a Patek Philippe wristwatch at auction.
*Estimates do not include buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium.
About Phillips:
Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services. Visit www.phillips.com for further information.
