A rare Voutilainen 28Sport led Phillips’ New York online auction by a considerable margin. One of just eight examples in stainless steel, it far exceeded its estimate and outperformed sought-after watches from F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe and Rolex.
Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen’s 28Sport Limited Edition has sold for $1,016,000, including the buyer’s premium, at Phillips’ New York online auction. Estimated at $120,000–240,000, the watch attracted bidding that took the result well beyond expectations. The New York Sessions Fall 2026 sale, which closed on 9 October, comprised 88 lots, with the Voutilainen finishing comfortably ahead of the field.
Hammer Price Reaches More Than Three Times the High Estimate
The million-dollar result calls for a clear distinction between the hammer price and the total paid by the buyer. Phillips’ reported figure of $1,016,000 includes a 27 per cent buyer’s premium applicable at this price level. Removing that premium gives a hammer price of $800,000, with a further $216,000 in fees.
Auction estimates exclude the buyer’s premium, so the hammer price provides the appropriate comparison. The winning bid was approximately 3.33 times the high estimate of $240,000, exceeding it by around 233 per cent. It was also approximately 6.67 times the low estimate. The watch therefore crossed the million-dollar threshold with the premium included, while the hammer price alone already demonstrates the strength of the bidding.
One Voutilainen Outsells the Next Three Watches Combined
Independent watchmakers dominated the top of the sale. Behind the Voutilainen, an F.P. Journe Octa Lune in pink gold and a platinum lineSport Centigraphe Souverain each achieved $304,800, including the buyer’s premium. Fourth place went to another platinum F.P. Journe, an Octa Quantième Perpétuel with a perpetual calendar, which sold for $241,300.
Together, those three Journes realised $850,900. The single Voutilainen therefore sold for $165,100 more than the next three most expensive watches combined. That gap puts the 28Sport’s performance into perspective, particularly given the standing of the watches immediately behind it.
The Journes also comfortably exceeded their estimates. Both the Octa Lune and the Centigraphe Souverain reached hammer prices of $240,000, twice their respective high estimates of $120,000. The Octa Quantième Perpétuel achieved a hammer price of $190,000 against a high estimate of $140,000. The Voutilainen stood out both in absolute terms and in the extent to which it surpassed expectations.
Rolex and Patek Philippe Finish in a Different Price Bracket
Results for valuable watches from the major manufacturers add further context. A yellow-gold Patek Philippe reference 5270J, combining a chronograph with a perpetual calendar, sold for $139,700 including the premium. Its hammer price of $110,000 remained within the $80,000–160,000 estimate. The Voutilainen’s final result was more than seven times that of this complicated Patek Philippe.
A platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116506, also known as the “Platona”, achieved $101,600 including the premium. Its hammer price of $80,000 likewise fell within its $70,000–140,000 estimate. The Voutilainen sold for exactly ten times the Daytona’s price. In this sale, precious metal and a famous model name were only part of the picture.
Auction Price Comparison
| Lot | Estimate (USD) | Hammer price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Voutilainen 28Sport | 120,000–240,000 | 800,000 |
| F.P. Journe Octa Lune | 60,000–120,000 | 240,000 |
| F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain | 60,000–120,000 | 240,000 |
| F.P. Journe Octa Quantième Perpétuel | 70,000–140,000 | 190,000 |
| Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos “Gustav Klimt” | 70,000–140,000 | 120,000 |
| Patek Philippe 5270J | 80,000–160,000 | 110,000 |
| Rolex Daytona “Platona” | 70,000–140,000 | 80,000 |
All amounts are in US dollars. Hammer prices have been calculated from Phillips’ reported sale results by removing the 27 per cent buyer’s premium. Estimates exclude the premium.
Rarity Goes Beyond the Production Number
The 28Sport sold at Phillips is number five in a limited series of just eight stainless-steel watches. Phillips dates it to circa 2021, and it was offered from the original owner’s collection with its accessories and documentation. Its case measures 39 millimetres in diameter and houses the manually wound calibre 28.
The dial makes this particular example rarer still, pairing a black onyx centre with a blue guilloché hour ring. According to Phillips, potentially only two watches were made with this combination. Orange hour markers and luminous details reinforce the sporting character, while the movement’s hand finishing reflects the demanding craftsmanship associated with Voutilainen.
With independent makers occupying the top four positions, the auction offered a particularly strong reception for their work. In the Voutilainen’s case, collectors focused on a watch whose functions are limited to telling the time with a small seconds display, despite the perpetual calendars and sophisticated chronographs available in the same sale.
The result suggests that this example’s rarity, craftsmanship and overall execution carried considerable weight with bidders. A single sale, however, cannot establish a broader trend for the value of all Voutilainen watches.