Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo 1952 Observatory Dial Limited Edition by Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is delighted to introduce its latest collaborative horological creation: the 1952 Observatory Dial Limited Edition. This exquisite vintage-inspired wristwatch is the result of a creative partnership between Phillips Watches leadership, William Massena of Massena LAB, and the masterful touch of award-winning independent watchmaker Raúl Pagès.

The dial finds inspiration from the Observatory-grade Patek Philippe Ref. 2458 wristwatch, a unique masterpiece crafted in platinum for the distinguished collector and lawyer Joe Ben “J.B.” Champion, Jr. in 1952. Notably, when this unique vintage wristwatch last sold publicly at auction in 2014, it set a record for the most valuable time-only wristwatch ever sold at auction, cementing its place in history.

Despite its historic influences, this collaboration remains profoundly modern, building on the technical platform first established by Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès in 2022, with the successful release of their Magraph Limited Edition wristwatch.

The result is the all-new 1952 Observatory Dial Limited Edition, featuring a 38.5mm × 10mm case made of 316L stainless steel, and with the manual-wind, proprietary caliber M690 ticking inside. The impressive caliber M690 is an iteration of Massena LAB’s first movement—but here with small seconds at 9 o’clock—and features an impressive level of traditional hand-decoration, which is achieved by a network of Swiss craftsmen whose work is overseen by Pagès himself. Pagès also designed and conceived the overall architecture of the movement, but he does not personally handle the production or decoration of the movement like he would in one of his own watches.

This is the caliber M690’s first-ever appearance in a publicly released wristwatch.

Our collective love for vintage watches and the stories woven around them served as our guide in creating the 1952 Observatory Dial Limited Edition. Crucially, this admiration didn’t confine our creative process and exploration; rather, it empowered it. That is the reason we opted for a two-tone grey dial with yellow gold accents found throughout the pearl-style minute track, the handset (hour, minute, small seconds), and the hour markers (Arabic numerals for six and 12 o’clock, batons used for the remaining). The cool-tone grey-and-gold color scheme lends a slightly more contemporary aesthetic compared to the traditional Observatory Dial format.

The 1952 Observatory Dial Limited Edition wristwatch has been produced in an exclusive run of exactly 99 timepieces in stainless steel. All watches will be available for purchase exclusively through Phillips, for CHF 8,800.

Price: CHF 8,800.