A curated variety of choices: This has long been a key reason for the popularity of concept stores such as Dover Street Market, Colette (a French cult retailer that closed in 2017, to the horror of its many fans), or Malmaison by The Hour Glass. Find one that aligns with your aesthetic preferences, and it’s almost like having a personal, one-stop shop with all sorts of covetable goods that might have been hand-picked for you by a good friend with stellar taste.
Now, auction house Phillips Asia brings that sense of curated choice to its first cross-category online auction, Refresh:Reload. Says Delissa Handoko, head of online sales for Phillips Hong Kong: “At Phillips, we have seen a great deal of cross-category collecting, and as collectors’ tastes continue to evolve globally, we are excited to present this online-only sale. Curated in two complementary parts, “Refresh” embodies a more romantic and lighthearted aesthetic, bringing together colourful and fun contemporary artworks alongside elegant jewellery and timepieces. The second half of the sale, “Reload” will see cutting-edge jewellery and watches offered alongside fresh, trend-setting art, editions and collectibles.”
Assembled by the Phillips Asia team, the sale comprises 180 lots. They include contemporary artworks by Kaws, Genieve Figgis and Katherine Bernhardt; sports timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet; as well as jewellery pieces by Cartier, Graff and Van Cleef & Arpels. Bold and distinctive, the Refresh:Reload highlights are clearly meant to appeal to a younger audience hunting for collectibles that can be worthy additions to their homes and/or alternative-investment portfolios.
Another millennial-friendly aspect of Refresh:Reload is, of course, the fact that it is taking place online. Already a growing trend with auction houses desiring to appeal to younger folks who enjoy the convenience of virtual shopping, the online auction is set to become even more important as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic that’s keeping many of us at home. Phillips’ Handoko notes: “Our global Spring calendar is made up entirely of online-only sales and we have seen strong participation already.”
Bidding for Refresh:Reload opens on 20 May at 5pm HKT and will begin closing on 28 May at 10pm HKT. The entire sale will be available to browse on Phillips.com. Selected highlights will be exhibited in Phillips’ Hong Kong Gallery (by appointment only).
