The Geneva Watch Auction XXI
Early this Sunday, May 11th, a unique piece Classic One—an ivory tone-on-tone dial made specifically for the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction and the Dufour Foundation — hammered for 20,000 CHF. After fees and conversion, it equated to just over $30,000 USD, more than triple its retail price. I anticipated a modest 12.
What struck me most, however, wasn’t just the price—it was that the buyer is someone I don’t know. That’s significant. It means the work speaks for itself, beyond familiar circles and personal connections. It’s no longer just about the people I’ve met or the networks I’ve built. It’s about the vision. And now, that vision is being recognized in ways I never fully expected.
On a (sort of) related note, in the months leading up to the upcoming HN02, I had considered creating a piece that would be more accessible, priced for a wider audience. It seemed like a good idea—something that would allow more collectors to join the fold. But each time I tried to scale it back or simplify it to fit within a specific price point, something didn’t feel right. The design would lose its integrity. The craftsmanship, the finishing, the details—it would all become compromised.
At the core, Havid Nagan has always been about creating watches that represent my vision of perfection. If I’m to continue down that path, I can’t dilute the essence of what makes these pieces meaningful. I didn’t start this brand to make something that simply exists—I started it to make something that matters. And if I lose that, I lose everything. Ironically, these compromises, or limitations, were all self-imposed. They were my own, for lack of better word, insecurities, of what the world would accept of me. I now no longer feel them.
This auction result, while gratifying, also clarified something deeper: the world is ready to meet Havid Nagan on its own terms. It’s no longer about adjusting or compromising—it’s about continuing to move forward with the vision that started it all. This result didn’t just set a price. It set a precedent. For the brand. For myself. And for what I must now demand from everything that follows. I didn’t imagine any of this. Not the price. Not the messages. Not Philippe Dufour holding something I created! But that’s the truth now. The work has to answer to it.
Thank you to every one of my supporters, collectors, enthusiasts, friends, and family. This is only the beginning.