GENEVA : THE NEXT GRAAL ON THE AUCTION BLOCK VS. NEW AGE COLLECTORS

This year again watch aficionados will be focused mostly on vintage watches, although the golden palm is this year again awarded to Phillips for its milimetered selection at auction, focusing mainly on Patek Phillipe and Rolex, Antiquorum won the jury’s special price thanks to its selection  sticking to the actual market trend for “New Age Collectors”.

Indeed, the influence of social networks and explosion of internet transactions gave birth to a new audience of young collectors, one that differs from traditional collectors focusing mainly on Patek Philippe and Rolex, a real new market trend that strengthens day by day, a new generation of e-collectors coming to traditional auctions.

Most of them come from the online community and they will most probably give tomorrow a breath of fresh air to the traditional auction industry; enthusiasm and knowledge of vintage watch market is put to their credit; coming out of the box, these young collectors have as promotional tools Iphones and Instagram accounts.

Both anglo saxon tycoons from the auction industry, Christie’s and Sotheby’s, each on their sides managed to find a good rhythm with a large variety of models for Christie’s and some rare and never seen before market vintage pieces for Sotheby’s.

This season again will be a follow-up event with the famous Patek Phillipe 1518 in steel, which will attracts the right looks and all most powerful collectors worldwide. One question remains for everyone: will it be the new and ultimate trophy for a wristwatch ?

PHILLIPS evening sale 12 & 13th November

Two evening sales session that watch collectors await eagerly each season under the hammer of star auctioneer Aurel Bacs, with a section this time showing ‘la crème de la crème’ over 196 lots, meaning really the best of vintage watches.

Here is my first selection of 3 highlights from this sale :

Lot 38 – Estimate upon request, starting price will be 3 million euros. This rare reference will concentrate all eyes during the auction. This mythical reference 1518 concentrates all making rarity at Patek Philippe, if gold is often meant to be associated with major complications, this steel version is definitely the ultimate trophy for a savvy and wealthy collectors. With a starting price around 3 million euros, only one question remains wether it will be the new world record for a wristwatch at auction.

Lot 142 – After the relaunch of triton watch brand recently, this vintage example so called La Spirotechnique by this brand is a perfect illustration of this year’s new market trends towards ‘dead brand’s society’. Positioning of winding crown at 12 o’clock makes it instantly recognizable, originally it allowed divers not to go get the crown caught on the wet suit while diving. This is the original model as used by the divers team of Commandant Cousteau, La Calypso. The ultimate Odysseus !

Lot 162 – This Rolex GMT Master also called ‘Pepsi’ by collectors immediately struck my eye with its prestigious provenance, a gift from the famous pilot Sir Jacky Stewart to the car designer Derek Gardner, as a special thank for designing the racing car that brought him to the victory in Formula 1 championship of 1971 (winner as well in 1969 and 1973). Note especially that this specific example is accompanied by all original accessories: box, papers and booklets, as well as pictures from the races at the time. Definitely it will warm up collectors !!!

ANTIQUORUM, 13th November

Two sessions will be conducted in the morning and the afternoon with a strong emphasis on vintage watches, taking into account unusual and rare pieces like the diver’s watch section to start the auction. The auctioneer Julien Schaerer will make you spend a pleasant day with a large selection of vintage pieces as well as some highlights signed Heuer.

Lot 270 – This is a rare example in the market from the first series of the Royal Oak (Jumbo). With a rare tropical dial, this watch was originally designed by Gerald Genta. The current market trend has evidenced by the fashion effect of her little sister, the Nautilus, which celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Lot 463 – This piece is a superb example of a chronograph wristwatch by Breguet in yellow gold with an enamel dial, rare to find on the market. This phonographs is a testimony  of the first wristwatches ever made during the twentieth century. No doubt that collectors will recognize the beauty of this rare chronograph.

Lot 559 – With this exceptional chronograph, it’s exactly what the market is looking for today: a beautiful tropical dial and a unique vintage look for this Pre-Daytona Ref. 6238 signed Rolex, a real trophy for this young generation of new collectors seeking the ultimate sports watch with unique variants on the dial. Based on estimate it will attract many collectors.

 

CHRISTIE’S 14th november

Still celebrating the Nautilus 40th anniversary, this second session will include key lots and probably the most outstanding piece of the four sessions, the famous Nautilus in platinum, the most sought after, and most probably unique according to the catalog description. It includes also a large selection of vintage Rolex timepieces. 

Lot 33 – A rare and sought after reference in the line of Nautilus and Royal Oak, both designed by Gerald Genta; this Vacheron Constantin watches sports-like from 1979 is to be watched as the next bespoke timepiece for sports watch collectors, in the starting blocks to become an example increasingly sought after by collectors. Watch out for sure its final result !!!

Lot 39 – This is probably the most unusual wristwatch from this catalog with both rare complication for the minute repeating mechanism along with this peculiar case design housing this superb integrated bracelet. Audemars Piguet demonstrates through this talking piece all its talent and imagination in creating unique timepieces.

Lot 322 – Christie’s managed to find the true gem of all Nautilus sections with this example made in platinum, most probably unique. This might be the next world record for a Nautilus on the auction block. The question will remain on everyone’s lips until the November 14th late in the afternoon.

 

SOTHEBY’S 15th november 

This season Sotheby’s will be the last to hold auctions and likewise the anglo-saxon auctioneer was able to find a few  gems fresh to the market, we especially remember last season’s result from the record breaking result for an Heuer presented by Jack Heuer himself to the famous racing driver Ronnie Petterson.

Lot 250 – This example is interesting in many ways, this is the first version of the famous Milgauss by Rolex, known as  the reference 6541, it was originally designed for professional purposes and made for scientific programs, especially at the CERN in Geneva. It is easily recognizable by its ‘lightning bolt’ center seconds hand. No doubt it will attract all attention form Rolex aficionados with a conservative estimate.

Lot 214 – A beautiful Breguet ‘à tact’ pocket watch, dating from 1815 and belonging afterwards to several personalities such Mr. Louvrazoff and the wife of one of the owner of Breguet at the time, Mrs. Henry Brown, but most of all Sir David Salomons (British politician which remained famous for his fabulous Breguet collection including the ‘Marie Antoinette’). This piece was exhibited for the first time in 1923 on the occasion of a retrospective on the centenary of Breguet. A museum quality piece. 

Lot 309 – Produced between 1961 and 1966 the Reference 3439/1 was made in a very few examples and this watch is a rare version, if not unique of the famous Patek Philippe Calatrava. Most probably a prototype with a slate-colored dial and white Arabic numerals matching same color of the hands, this model is also the first with a transparent case back, allowing to see the movement and highlighting the legendary caliber 27-460. A piece that could also trigger a sharp battle between knowledgeable collectors at auction.

 

To conclude, all these auctions are expected to be very promising because records could well be beaten !!! But beyond the records, it is important to highlight the city of Geneva as the privileged stage for decades of the finest horological auctions. Personally, I am delighted once again to attend this weekend where the whole community will be brought together, all of us under the same excitement for passion and love of watches by all means, no matter what prices it can fetch, what matters only is the emotion to take in hands a rare timepiece. Long live the Swiss Made !!!