Phillips to Auction the Watch Collection of Francis Ford Coppola
A landmark F.P. Journe prototype leads the New York sale with an opening bid of 1,000,000 dollars
Phillips will present the personal watch collection of Francis Ford Coppola during its upcoming New York auction in December, marking one of the most notable consignments ever associated with the celebrated filmmaker. The sale forms part of the tenth anniversary of the Phillips watch department and places particular emphasis on a unique prototype from F. P. Journe that has already secured an iconic reputation within contemporary independent watchmaking.
Source: www.phillips.com
A prototype born from an unlikely meeting
The centrepiece of the auction is the prototype F. P. Journe FFC, a watch conceived after a chance encounter between François Paul Journe and Coppola in the Napa Valley in 2012. The meeting sparked the idea of displaying the time using a sculpted human hand, a concept that would become the defining element of the FFC design and the source of the initials within its name.
The prototype was completed in 2021 and produced in only two examples, one for Coppola and one for Journe. It features steel bridges, a white minute track and a black titanium hand that performs the hour indication with animated finger movements. The technical and artistic audacity of the piece placed it immediately among the most striking creations of the last decade. In the same year, a related piece, the FFC Blue, was auctioned at Only Watch for 4.5 million Swiss francs, reinforcing the importance of the concept within the independent watchmaking world.
Phillips will open bidding for Coppola’s prototype at 1,000,000 dollars, a figure that reflects its unique status and the exceptional provenance attached to it.
Additional watches from Coppola’s collection
Alongside the FFC prototype, Phillips will offer a curated selection of watches owned by Coppola, spanning independent and classical maisons. The group includes:
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F. P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance. Estimate 120,000 to 240,000 dollars
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Patek Philippe World Time ref. 5130G. Estimate 15,000 to 30,000 dollars
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Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 3919. Estimate 6,000 to 12,000 dollars
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IWC Portugieser Chronograph. Estimate 3,000 to 6,000 dollars
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Breguet Classique ref. 5140. Estimate 4,000 to 8,000 dollars
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Blancpain Minute Repeater. Estimate 15,000 to 30,000 dollars
The selection offers insight into Coppola’s range of horological interests, which extend from technical innovation and acoustic complications to classical dress watches and historically significant travel pieces.
A sale positioned for significant attention
The auction will take place on 6 and 7 December and is expected to attract strong global interest. The combination of high profile provenance, rare independent watchmaking and recognisable references from leading maisons positions this collection as one of the most compelling offerings of the season.
The FFC prototype stands as the clear focal point, representing both a creative collaboration and an important moment in the evolution of F. P. Journe’s work. For collectors, the sale provides a rare opportunity to acquire watches that connect cinematic history with contemporary mechanical artistry.
