Top 15 Best Watch Auction Houses and Auctioneers

Watch Auction News, Reviews & Resources

• 1st Green-Dial Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-014 At Antiquorum’s July 2021 Auction In Monaco - "Antiquorum will be holding its next auction in Monaco on July 21, 2021, where collectors will have a chance to bid for the very first time on a Patek Philippe Reference 5711/1A-014. Yes, this is the brand-new stainless steel Nautilus with olive-green dial introduced in April 2021 as the model replacing the blue-dialed Reference 5711/1A-010."
• 5 Famous Watches From Sylvester Stallone’s Collection Go Up For Auction, Including A Prized Panerai - "Adrenaline packed. These may well be the words that best describe the upcoming Phillips in Association with Bacs and Russo Racing Pulse auction to be held in New York on December 12, 2020."
• 5 hot lots from Sotheby's Important Watches on December 7, 2023 - "On December 7, 2023, Sotheby’s will be holding their latest Important Watches auction with 159 exceptional lots to go under the hammer."
• 5 Predictions For Geneva Auction Week 2021 - "What to expect when you're expecting big numbers."
• 5 Rolex Watches to Invest in During the Second Half of 2021 - "Many watch enthusiasts would love to make a bit of money from buying and selling watches. Rolex is, without a doubt, the number one brand for making money on the watch market. Rolexes have significantly gone up in price over the last three to four years. This makes buying one a costly prospect these days, but are some models still flying under the radar? While there aren’t any Rolex models that go completely unnoticed, there are a few we think still have upward potential when it comes to price."
• 5 Top Picks From 'Exclusive Timepieces' Auction By Monaco Legend Group - "Few houses manage to offer such consistently impressive and rare wristwatches as Monaco Legend Group, and this undeniably remains the case for the upcoming 'Exclusive Timepieces' auction held in Monaco on 20th & 21st of April."
• $7.8 Million Patek Philippe Silk Road Watch Claims World Record - "Watch fans will recognise the watch as 'The Silk Road,' so dubbed for its depiction of the Eurasian landmass. It’s also the first of 11 Ref. 2523 models, and it’s one of only three with the Eurasian design. The watch has a cloisonné enamel dial. Two crowns are used on the watch - one to wind it and the other to control the city ring. The city ring allows the wearer to calculate the current time in 40 cities, all of which are listed on the watch’s circumference. Powering the watch is a Swiss 'time only' 12-ligne movement (cal. 12-400), which was personally modified by Louis Cottier, who invented the world time system."
• 10 Major Trends & Takeaways From The Spring 2022 Watch Auction Season - "Watch Auction Trends Midway Through 2022."
• 10 Most Collectible Military Watches of All Time - "Once tools, these timepieces are now scarce, highly sought after, and expensive to collect."
• 10 Most Important Rolex Watches Ever Made - "From the Submariner to the Day-Date, these watches made history and defined a brand. 1926: The Oyster - 1945: The Datejust - 1950: The Oyster Perpetual - 1953: The Submariner - 1954: The GMT Master - 1956: The Milgauss."
• 20 Watches You Should Start Saving For at Charity Auction Only Watch 2021 - "53 unique watches from the likes of Patek Philippe, Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet will be sold."
• 22 watch hands every collector should know - "Everything you need to know about the different watch hands in the world of timepieces, from Rolex's Lightning Bolt to Omega's Rocket Ship."
• 50 Most Important Watches Ever - "From design landmarks to technical firsts to models that invented a whole new category, these watches have had a substantial impact on watchmaking."
• 50 top Swiss Watch Companies of 2023 According to Morgan Stanley - "Rolex Breaks the CHF 10 billion Barrier. Morgan Stanley and LuxeConsult's latest industry report shows the clear winner(s) of 2023."
• $300 Million Watch Collection - "Patrick Getreide amassed the one-of-a-kind OAK Collection over five decades. Now the French entrepreneur believes the time is right to sell 142 of his rare treasures at Christie’s this month."
• 2021 Phillips New York Watch Auction - "Browse a dynamic selection of watches spanning the 20th and 21st centuries. Featuring 165 unique and rare timepieces from the world's leading watchmakers. Follow Artists. Bid Online." 11-12 December, 2021.
• $140,000 watch scam (& how to avoid getting conned yourself) - Time+Tide.
• A Chance To Own An Actual James Bond Worn Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition - "The very watch worn by Daniel Craig in the 2021 James Bond No Time To Die movie." September 28, 2022.
• A Collected Man - since 2014. "A Collected Man is a curated, consignment platform for rare watches." Buy & sell vintage, preowned and independent watches.
• A Collector's Guide: The Cartier Crash - "As the Crash becomes one of the most collectible watches on the planet today, we dissect its historical significance, explore its myriad iterations and chart its price performance over time."
• A CURIOUS ROLEX DAYTONA 6264 “PAUL NEWMAN” AT ANTIQUORUM GENEVA - "Antiquorum Geneva is about to auction a peculiar Rolex Daytona Ref. 6264 in stainless steel featuring a stunning 'tropical' Paul Newman dial. Interestingly, the case number belongs to a legendary 18k gold batch, the engravings between the lugs are fake and so is the bezel. The dial? Well, that one has a life of its own."
• A Full List of All 47 Unique Lots for Only Watch 2024 - "The 10th iteration of Only Watch is scheduled for May 10, 2024, at Palexpo in Geneva, where Christie's will auction off 47 exceptionally unique pieces."
• A Grail Rolex “Lemon” Paul Newman Daytona Headlines Phillips New York Auction: SIX - "The million-dollar price tags and highlights."
• A Phillips Watch Auction Is Scheduled For June 2022 - Phillips, in association with Bacs & Russo, has just announced it will be hosting its first-ever spring season sale in New York this year. The event will take place at the auction house's U.S. headquarters at 432 Park Avenue, from June 11-12, 2022.
• A Private Collection of 128 Patek Philippe Contemporary Timepieces Heads to Auction - "A collection of 128 Patek Philippe contemporary timepieces, which Christie’s touts as the finest to appear at auction, will be offered across three sales this spring. Dubbed the Kairos Collection, it’s been assembled by a private, anonymous collector who has actively collected watches for more than 35 years, Christie’s said. The collection is named to reflect the two sides to the concept of time in ancient Greece, chronos and kairos. The collection will be divided into three parts to be offered respectively at Christie’s Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York. On May 9, 2022, a selection of 30 pieces will be auctioned in Geneva."
• A Rare Patek Philippe Owned by the Last Emperor of China Could Fetch Millions at Auction - "The coveted 1930s timepiece is one of only eight in existence. The coveted Reference 96 Quantieme Lune, which was finished by Patek in 1937, represents a true feat of watchmaking. The model notably features a moon-phase indicator and a triple-date calendar. Although these complications are now somewhat commonplace, it was quite difficult to integrate them into thin models at that time. Patek succeeded, of course. The watch in question once belonged to Aisin-Giro Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing dynasty, and has been privy to some incredible moments in history. The timepiece
• will be auctioned off by Phillips in association with Bacs and Russo later this year, along with several of the Emperor’s other treasures. The collection will be on view in Hong Kong from March 18 to 31, after which it will New York, Singapore, London, Taipei, and Geneva. The auction date is yet to be announced."
• A Unique Set Of All Five F.P. Journe Souscription Models To Be Sold By Phillips This Fall 2021 - "Oh, and they’re all #001 in each series."
• Al Capone’s Platinum & Diamond Patek Philippe is Up For Grabs - "The grandchildren of Al Capone recently put his monogrammed and diamond-encrusted pocketknife and a Colt .45 on the auction block. Included in the lot is Al Capone’s now vintage platinum Patek Philippe pocket watch."
• An Eye on Complicated Watches at Phillips Hong Kong - "Phillips: Watches Auction - November 24-25, Hong Kong."
• Andy Warhol’s Patek Philippe 2526 (& Six Other Great Pateks) At Sotheby’s - "Previously from The Andy Warhol Collection, Reference 2526 | Retailed by Serpico Y Laino Caracas: A pink gold wristwatch with first series enamel dial, previously from The Andy Warhol Collection, Circa 1955." March 7, 2023.
• Andy Warhol’s Patek Philippe pops-up at Christie’s New York sale - "A yellow gold Patek Philippe perpetual calendar, once owned by Andy Warhol, is the star lot at Christie’s New York’s upcoming Important Watches auction. The sale takes place online and in person on December 5, 2023."
• Another Million-Dollar Paul Newman-Owned Rolex Hits The Block At Phillips - "Another legendary Rolex Daytona owned by Paul Newman is coming up for sale at Phillips in Association with Bacs and Russo, the auction house that set a record when it sold a Paul Newman-owned Rolex Daytona in 2017 for $17.7 million. In a lingo twist that could only happen in the watch world, this is not a 'Paul Newman' Daytona, although it is a Daytona owned by Paul Newman. The Paul Newman style is distinguishable from other Daytona models for its 'square lollipop' ends on the subdial markers and its Art Deco font."
• Answering The 'Dirty' Question - Is An Omega Speedmaster A Good Investment? - "Are you a flipper, or do you just want to make sure your money is well spent?"
• Auction Watch: Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 ‘First Series’ & Independents at Phillips Hong Kong - Sjx.
• Aurel Bacs interview - "Began his career as a watch specialist with Sotheby’s, has worked up the ranks to become the single most important player in the watch-auction industry, breaking record after record, including having sold the most expensive wristwatch ever at auction."
• At Watch Auctions, Vintage and Prime to Be Most Prized Qualities - The New York Times.
• Best Investment Watches of 2022, From Rolex to Patek Philippe - "Here are the most collectible models from watchmaking's holy trinity: Patek Philippe, Rolex and Audemars Piguet."
• best Rolex watches to invest in, according to Rolex experts - "Watch prices have fallen since a 2022 high, meaning now might be the time to bag that Rolex you've been dreaming of."
• Best Watches in the World: Timeless Craftsmanship & Innovation - "Championing the Pinnacle of Timekeeping. While horological excellence can come from any corner of the globe, certain brands have solidified their status as makers of the best watches in the world. These brands include ..."
• Cartier ‘Cheich’ Watch Could Fetch $400,000 In Sotheby’s Paris Auction - "It will appear in public for the first time in 40 years as the top lot in Sotheby’s Paris Fine Watches auction. Online bidding will open September 16 with the final live sale on September 30, 2022. This hybrid bidding model has been used by the auction house since the coronavirus pandemic. Its estimate is $200,000 - $400,000."
• Celebrity-Favorite Cartier Crash Watch Sells For $1.5 Million, Nearly Doubling Previous Auction Record - "A Cartier Crash from the first release of the model sold for $1.65 million at auction Thursday, nearly double the previous auction record for the rare and recognizable watch that has surged in popularity in recent years."
• Charles Dickens' pocket watch up for auction - "The open-faced key-wind watch dates from 1836 and was gifted to the famous author on the first anniversary of his editorship of the magazine Bentleys Miscellany. The watch, along with a desk set, both come from Dickens' descendants and will go on sale in Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.".
• Christie's to Auction Andy Warhol's Patek Philippe Calatrava 570 - "The watch in question is a Patek Philippe Calatrava 570 owned by Andy Warhol. In his life, it was estimated that the iconic New York City artist amassed over 300 watches with Patek Philippe a staple in his collection. This particular example bears a double-signed dial with the Hausmann & Co. name at the 6 o’clock position. Hausmann & Co., the prestigious watch and clock manufacturer, still resides in the same premises in Rome’s historical center as it did in 1794." The auction will take place from June 8 - 22, 2021 where this watch is expected to fetch between $45,000 - $95,000 USD.
• Christie's ONLY Watch Charity Auction Totals $10.8-Million, Including A $6-Million Patek Philippe - Forbes.
• Christie’s Set To Auction $12 Million Patek Philippe Collection, Including One-Of-A-Kind Pieces - "The largest single-owner collection of Patek Philippe timepieces to be offered in Asia goes hits the auction block in two separate sales at Christie’s Hong Kong, the first in July and the second in November."
• Christie’s to Present Three Ultra-Rare Timepieces in Upcoming Geneva Auction - From Patek Philippe, F.P.Journe, to Philippe Dufour. Coming November in Geneva, Christie’s will be presenting a trio of prestigious and spectacular time-tellers at its Rare Watches auction. Leading the lineup is the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3700/31, a stunning timepiece encased in platinum with a diamond-set bezel, complete with an integrated bracelet crafted by Gay Frères. Estimated to fetch between 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 CHF (approximately $1,672,182 - $3,901,758 USD), the Ref. 3700/31 is also the only publicly known example of its kind, hence its status as the most important piece for Nautilus Ref. 3700 collectors. The Rare Watches live auction will take place on November 6, 2. p.m. CET at Christie’s Geneva location.
• COSC Chronometer Certification Mean for Your Watch? - "When collectors refer to their watches as being 'COSC certified', it means the chronometer certification comes from the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. Focusing on the standards of the COSC, certification criteria is based on ISO 3159 standards."
• Crypto Meltdown Claims Rolex & Patek Philippe as Victims - "Prices for the most popular secondhand luxury watches have peaked. It’s the latest sign that the bling boom might not last."
• Daniel Craig’s Actual James Bond Watch Is Coming to Auction - "And more of the biggest watches hitting the block in the coming months." September 28, 2022.
• Emperor Haile Selassie’s Patek Philippe Ref. 2497 Sells For $2.9 Million - "Christie’s sells Selassie’s watch at the second asking in an old-school battle of watch dealer royalty."
• Exploring Alternatives to Rolex: Navigating the Luxury Watch Market - "This article aims to introduce a range of options for those looking to explore the luxury watch market beyond Rolex, as well as to provide insight into what makes these alternatives appealing."
• Fine Watches at Sotheby's Geneva - 9-21 December, 2021.
• First Full Set Of Philippe Dufour Watches At Historical Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: XIV - "Grande Et Petite Sonnerie (Wristwatch And Pocket Watch), Duality, And Simplicity." What happens when the four different timepieces made by the greatest living watchmaker come up for auction at the same time, a set of watches that fully demonstrates the entire span of his work as an independent watchmaker? You buckle up for a wild ride, that’s what.
• Frank Sinatra Gave Two Watches to Tony Bennett. Now Both Are Heading to Auction - "Julien's Auctions is holding a two-day sale dedicated to the late musician on April 18 & 19."
• Gold pocket watch of richest man on Titanic fetches record-breaking £1.2m - "Amount paid for businessman John Jacob Astor’s watch is highest ever for Titanic memorabilia, auctioneers say."
• Gold watch worn by richest passenger aboard Titanic to be sold at auction - "A gold watch worn by John Jacob Astor IV, a member of the wealthy Astor family and the richest man aboard the Titanic, will go up for sale at an auction of memorabilia from the doomed ship. The watch is expected to sell for between £100,000 and £150,000 ($125,000-$188,000) and the valise for between £100,000-£120,000 ($125,000-$150,000), according to Andrew Aldridge, the managing director of auction house Henry Aldridge & Son. Bidding begins on April 27 at midday local time (7 a.m. ET)."
• gold watches: Everything you need to know about gold watches - "Even though we can understand innately that gold is valuable, there are a lot of factors to consider when you’re faced with a gold watch."
• guide to watch case hallmarks - "Being able to read hallmarks is a valuable skill when traversing the world of watches. Whether you’re trying to value an antique pocket watch or stumbling across solid gold watches while thrifting, reading this list of the most common universal hallmarks will definitely help you out."
• Highlights, Hidden Gems & More From Phillips' Upcoming Geneva Auctions - "All the Royal Oaks likely to make us go broke - plus lots more lots of watches to watch."
• Highlights From Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XIV - "A massive sale, full of heavy hitters from across the horological spectrum - plus an under-10k CHF low estimate bonus round."
• Highlights: The Creatives at Phillips’ Hong Kong Watch Auction - "Having rounded up some of the interesting and probably overlooked at Phillips’ upcoming Hong Kong watch auction, we now take a look at some of the independent watchmaking highlights in the sale."
• Hitler's watch sells for $1.1m in controversial sale - "A watch said to have belonged to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler has sold for $1.1m (£900,000) at an auction in the US. The Huber timepiece, which sold to an anonymous bidder, shows a swastika and has the initials AH engraved on it. Jewish leaders condemned the auction ahead of the sale at Alexander Historical Auctions in Maryland."
• Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIII - Hong Kong Auctions 25-26 November, 2021. "View and discover over 300 exceptional lots in The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIII. Featuring a selection of vintage & modern timepieces from the world's leading watchmakers." Phillips Auctioneers.
• How Are Auction Houses Preparing For A Potential Economic Downturn? - "A panel of auction-world and watch-industry experts respond - and try to forecast what might happen next."
• How the Cartier Crash Became The Most Important Vintage Watch of 2021 - "A new world-record auction price for the Crash is just the latest chapter in the history of this surreal Cartier."
• How to Invest in the Skyrocketing Watch Market - "The watch world has never been hotter, with demand skyrocketing right as supply slows to a trickle. But if you know where to look - and who to talk to, and how to spot value in an ocean of excess - there's no better time than now to find an investment-grade grail."
• How To Recognize When A Vintage Watch Was Made At A Glance - "Can you pinpoint a decade when you see a vintage watch?"
• How to spot a fake Rolex: 3 dead giveaways - "Don't get duped by a fake."
• How to Start a Watch Collection - "Vintage, pre-owned, or new? That is the question. What condition do you want for your first watch: pristine and untouched, or something with a little history?"
• How To Use Analytics To Buy Your Next Luxury Timepiece - "There is no single website that tracks the performance and availability of luxury timepieces. EveryWatch is a dynamic database that tracks over 500,000 watch references from more than 300 auction houses and 180 online marketplaces and dealers, including all the sellers on Chrono24."
• HSNY 2022 Online Charity Auction - Bid On These Nine Rare Watches At The HSNY's Annual Charity Auction. It's hosted by Phillips for the second time and runs from July 6-13, 2022.
• Ineichen Upcoming Auction Is Packed With Modern Complications - "Zurich-based auction house Ineichen Auctioneers will host sales of complicated watches, part 1, scheduled on 29 October 2022."
• Investment-grade Rolex & Patek Philippe watches are bad news for the industry - "Trusting the market is normally good advice, but what if the free market damages the reputation of its most successful brands? That is the danger facing Rolex and Patek Philippe now that almost nobody is able buy their most popular watches and their authorised dealers are being pitched into ugly fights with some of their most loyal clients. Where will it all end? Robin Swithinbank analyses the forces that are sucking the joy out of luxury watches."
• Jacob & Co. To Auction First Luxury Watch NFT In April - "Jacob & Co., the watch and jewelry company renowned for is use of diamonds, is adding a new facet to its business with the release of the first-ever luxury watch NFT."
• John Lennon’s Long-Lost Patek Philippe 2499 Has Been Found, Phillips Watch Exec Claims - "Has one of the great watch mysteries finally been solved? On Thursday, Phillips executive Arthur Touchot announced on his Instagram that one of the great mysteries plaguing the watch world has been solved: John Lennon’s long-lost Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph has been found."
• King Charles' Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph Is A Real Collector's Choice - "What's a watch fit for a king? As the newly ascended King Charles III has shown over the past few days of public mourning over the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, it might not always be the watch you expect. But for the new king, who's always been stylish, with a taste for the artisanal, the watch he's been wearing just makes sense."
• Legendary Cartier Cheich Heads To Sotheby's Paris In September - "One of only four examples made and the only one presented as prize for the Cartier Challenge." Sotheby’s next Fine Watches auction in Paris will take place from September 16-30, 2022
• Legendary Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher’s watch collection is going on sale - "Eight of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher’s luxury and personalized watches are going up for auction - and they could sell for more than $4.8 million in total. The rare timepieces will be exhibited in New York from May 3 to May 5, the weekend of the Miami Grand Prix, ahead of the auction in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 13, according to auction house Christie’s."
• Luxury Investments Around the World Compared - infographic - "Do you enjoy the finer things in life? For many of the world’s wealthy individuals, acquiring luxury goods such as art, fine wine, and watches is a passion. Unlike traditional investments in financial assets, luxury goods can be difficult to value if one does not have an appreciation for their form. A rare painting, for example, does not generate cash flows, meaning its value is truly in the eye of the beholder. To gain some insight into the market for luxury goods, this infographic takes data from Knight Frank’s 2021 Wealth Report to compare the preferences of nine global regions."
• Luxury watch shortage drives growth of $20 billion secondhand market as start-ups rush to cash in - "A rush of companies are vying to become the eBay of high-end horology - including the storied online marketplace itself. Demand for high-end watches exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Big Four watch brands - Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille - are holding firm on the limited production runs that make their timepieces so rare. The result is an online boom in the business of buying, selling and flipping pre-owned and vintage watches and a growing number of start-ups competing to become the dominant digital marketplace."
• Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT-Master Watch Worn In 'Apocalypse Now' Up For Auction With Phillips - Forbes.
• Masterpieces of Historical English Watchmaking at Phillips - "Sonneries, tourbillons, split-seconds, and more. Phillips’ upcoming New York auction, taking place on June 8 & 9, includes an unusual number of exceptional, highly complicated English pocket watches."
• Meet Aurel Bacs, the Man Who Sparked the Vintage Watch Boom - "Why are classic timepieces suddenly more sought-after, more Instagrammed, and more valuable than ever before? The answer has a lot to do with auctioneer extraordinaire Aurel Bacs."
• Most Iconic Chronograph Watches of All Time - "Of all the watch complications out there - and there are a lot of them - the chronograph is perhaps the most useful. Essentially a separate stopwatch built into a wristwatch, chronographs can be used for timing all sorts of things. Historically, chronograph watches have functioned as invaluable tools for some of the world’s most daring occupations."
• Most Iconic Watches of All Time - "The most notable timepieces ever designed, all in one place. They're trendsetters, travel companions, personal keepsakes and indispensable pieces of kit. These are the most iconic watches ever made."
• New York Watch Auction Preview 2022, Featuring Rolex, Cartier & Patek Philippe - "Five Hodinkee Editors Chat About Paul Newman's Stuntman, J.P. Morgan's Pocket Watch, And Watches We'd Actually Bid On As We Preview This Week's Auctions. Eavesdrop on a Hodinkee Slack chat as we talk auction trends, rare Cartier London watches, tiny chronographs, and more from the upcoming New York auctions."
• Not Even the Rich Can Buy Fancy Watches - "If you’re in the market for a $25,000 Rolex, you better know a guy. And you better have $50,000."
• One of the Rarest, Early Rolex Submariners Is Heading to Auction This Weekend - "Ref. 6536/1 features a detail rarely seen on Submariners: a depth rating in red script without unit measures."
• Only Watch 2021 - An Impressive Final Auction Result Of CHF 29,740,000 - "Only Watch auctions have seen impressive growth in results ever since the start in 2005. The first edition offered 34 lots that fetched €1,907,000 in total. This year’s 2021 edition brought us 53 lots totaling €28,210,000. Adding up, the Only Watch initiative, in nine editions, raised almost €100,000,000 for research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy. An extraordinary achievement indeed!"
• Patek Philippe Announces First-Ever NFT for its Rare Nautilus Timepiece - "Slated to be auctioned off on SM-ART’s platform." The auction date will be announced by Sm-ART soon.
• Patek Philippe Dominates Geneva's 2024 Spring Watch Auctions - "With $125 Million raised in total, the results of this season's watch auctions in Switzerland bode well for the high-end watch market. Philips, Christie's, Sotheby's and Antiquorum saw robust results as the spring auction season kicked off in Switzerland this week, calming concerns over a sagging market. Patek Philippe was at the top of all the results."
• Patek Philippe Grand Complication with Double Split-Chronographs Ref. 767 - "An incredible, landmark pocket watch. One of the most fascinating timepieces in Phillips’ upcoming Hong Kong auction, 24 - 25 May, Hong Kong."
• Patek Philippe Is Not Happy Sylvester Stallone Flipped That $5.4 Million Grand Master Chime - "Sly selling his watch after a few years of ownership seems to have angered Thierry Stern and the collecting community. It’s well understood that if a brand like Rolex or Patek Philippe learns you’ve sold a hot watch you bought at retail, then you’re most likely not going to get an opportunity to buy from that brand again."
• Patek Philippe owned by last Chinese emperor could fetch millions - "A wristwatch once owned by China's last emperor, Aisin-Gioro Puyi, is expected to fetch over $3 million when it goes on sale in Hong Kong this month at Phillips Hong Kong on May 23."
• Patek Philippe pocket watch owned by the first man to reach the South Pole appears at auction - "The Patek Philippe timekeeper is described as a deck watch, which used as a navigational chronometer by Mr Amundsen during his Maud expedition to the Arctic’s Northeast Passage between 1918 and 1923. The watch was kept in the Amundsen family until the 1980s and has been in the possession of a private collector since then."
• Patek Philippe Ref. 2499: A Guide To This Iconic Vintage Investment - "The world of vintage Patek Philippe is full of iconic, rare and high-performing watches, to say the least. Reference 2499, a perpetual calendar chronograph that stands out as a collector favorite, played an important role in shaping the history for the brand and its grand complications."
• Patek Philippe Reference 2499/100 Fetches $607,590 At Phillips Auction - "A Patek Philippe Reference 2499/100, 18k yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phases, circa 1982, was the top lot at Phillips with Bacs & Russo Hong Kong Watch Auction: X, held Friday. It sold for $607,590, within estimates."
• Patek Philippe Steel Sonnerie Minute Repeater Sells For $17.3 Million In Return Of Only Watch - "While the Christie's website was down, it didn't stop the bidding for Patek, Journe, Rexhepi, and others."
• Paul Newman Rolexes Could Fetch $600,000 At Auction - "More Paul Newman Rolexes? Two Watches The Actor Gave To A Hollywood Stuntman To Be Auctioned By Sotheby’s. The three watches will go on view for the first time in Monterey, California from August 17-20, 2022 as part of Sotheby’s flagship Monterey auction, followed by an international tour with stops in Dubai, Hong Kong, Geneva and Los Angeles."
• Paul Newman's Rolex Sold for Record-Breaking $17.8 Million - "'The Most Iconic Wristwatch of the 20th Century.'"
• Phillips Is About To Offer Some World-Class Pocket Watches - Here's Why It Matters - "These watches are the rarest of the rare and will surely elicit some intense bidding. Let's dig into what makes them so special." Phillip's "The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII" will take place from May 24 - 25 and "The New York Watch Auction: X" will take place from June 8-9.
• Phillips Lists Vintage Rolex Deep Sea Special Watch Rated For 35,789ft - "The watch to choose when you’re not just going deep, but all the way to the bottom."
• Phillips Sells $5.5 Million Rolex Owned By Paul Newman & Five Sylvester Stallone Watches For $3.1 Million - Forbes.
• Phillips Sets Four World Records At Its Biggest Asian Watch Auction Ever, Totaling Nearly $25 Million - "The vintage watch craze continues. Phillips just held its biggest watch auction ever in Asia, for a total of $24,650,748. The top four lots in the Hong Kong Watch Auction XII were Patek Philippes - no surprise there - but the next six pieces at the top of the sale were smaller or independent brands. There were no Rolexes in the top ten." The top lot was a Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 that sold for $1,981,838.
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• Phillips Sets World Record for $74.5 Million Watch Auction - "Led by Philippe Dufour, Phillips’s $74.5 Million Watch Auction Shattered Multiple World Records. Dufour's Grande et Petite Sonnerie was the headliner and set a record for the most expensive independent watch ever sold."
• Phillips The Geneva Watch Auction: XV - "Beyond the headline-grabbing, record-breaking blockbusters, there are always a number of hidden gems within each sale and the upcoming Geneva Watch Auction: Geneva Auction 7 - 8 May."
• Phillips: Watches Auction - Browse a dynamic selection of watches spanning the 20th and 21st centuries. Featuring 250 unique and rare timepieces from the world's leading watchmakers. Follow Artists. Favorite Lots. Bid Online. 5 & 7 November, 2021, Geneva, Switzerland.
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• Phillips Watches to auction rare timepieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex & more - "One watch could sell for more than $2 million. If you’ve ever dreamed of strapping a piece of history onto your wrist, brace yourself because Phillips Watches is about to make your fantasies a reality. The upcoming New York Watch Auction: NINE, set to unfold on December 9-10 at the illustrious 432 Park Avenue, promises an unprecedented spectacle of horological wonders. This extravaganza, billed as the company’s most diverse offering of watches for men ever in the Americas, is poised to shake the watch-collecting world to its core."
• Rare Patek Philippe Watches | Sotheby's Watch Auction - "Browse A Wide Array Of Iconic Watches, From Vintage To Contemporary."
• Rolex & Cartier tipped for best investment watches in 2022 - "Rising demand and continuing scarcity will make Rolex and Cartier two of the hottest investment watch brands in 2022, according to secondary market specialist The RealReal. Next year will be building on one of the hottest growth periods in history for the luxury watch business, leading to extreme shortages at authorised dealers and soaring prices on the grey and pre-owned markets."
• Rolex Daytona 6240 Paul Newman “Neanderthal” - A Myth Goes Extinct - "In May 2018, the auction house Phillips hosted a thematic auction called 'Daytona Ultimatum' in which 32 of the 'finest, rarest, and best-preserved' Rolex Daytona chronographs changed hands. One of these was the so-called 'Neanderthal', a watch featured in Pucci Papaleo’s legendary 'Ultimate Rolex Daytona' book and presented by Phillips as the ancestor of the coveted 'Paul Newman' Daytona."
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• Rolex is a mere pretender to the Patek Philippe crown at watch auctions - "Rolex made such a splash in 2017 when a Paul Newman-owned Daytona sold for $17.5 million that the casual observer might think it has dominated the auction world’s top ranked sales ever since. Not so, observes Simon De Burton, who sees Patek Philippe firmly maintaining its reputation as the king of auction brands and a number of rising stars like Cartier, F. P. Journe and Philippe Dufour regularly grabbing the attention of expert collectors."
• Rolex Panerai 3646 Ca. 1944 To Go To Auction At Webb’s Auction House, New Zealand on August 26-27, 2021. - "A fascinating slice of history goes under the hammer."
• Rolex watches, race suits & a quirky tin pig bench. Paul Newman’s items go on sale - "A menagerie of more than 300 items that they accumulated during that time is back in the public eye at a Sotheby’s auction this week."
• Sean Connery’s Rolex Submariner Could Follow The Same Path As The Paul Newman Daytona - "A few weeks ago, famed Scottish actor Sean Connery passed away at the age of 90. Connery was best-known for his role as the original James Bond, a role that would go on to define not just his career but an entire film franchise. However, Connery can also be credited with the popularity of one of the world’s most iconic watches, the Rolex Submariner."
• Sir Michael Caine's Gold Rolex Oysterquartz Breaks World Record At Auction - "A collection of personal items - 183 pieces - including watches, belonging to legendary actor Sir Michael Caine and his wife have sold at auction in London. The star lot of ‘Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection Sale’ at Bonhams London was an 18K yellow gold Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date that the actor had worn on screen in several films including A Shock To The System and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which sold for £125,250 GBP (approximately $166,500 USD) setting a new world record price for that model and smashing the pre-sale estimate of £8,000-£12,000 GBP ($10,500 USD - $15,800 USD)."
• Sir Michael Caine's Rolex Oysterquartz Is The Watch I Didn't Know I Needed - "It's up for grabs in March, at Bonhams." March 2, 2022, New Bond Street, London, U.K.
• Sotheby's New York Achieves a Personal Best With Sale of US$9.6m Patek Philippe - "The new-to-market chronograph came from a royal estate."
• Sotheby's NY Latest Fine Watches Auction Totaled Out to Nearly $4 Million - "Notable sold items included Andy Warhol’s Patek Philippe 2526, a diamond-set Patek Philippe 5271 and a trio of Rolex 'Paul Newman' Daytonas."
• Sotheby’s Sells Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak For $2.1-million; Double-Signed Patek/Tiffany Pieces Up Next - "Gerald Genta, known as the Picasso of watches, famously designed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. His personal Royal Oak, a customized version of the model, made in 1978, is the only known steel ref. 5402 with a gold bezel, sold at a Sotheby’s watch auction in Geneva on May 8 for CHF 2,170,000 (about $122,676)."
• Sotheby’s to Sell Gerald Genta’s Own Royal Oak - "And 100 of his original sketches accompanied by NFTs." A watch designer whose talent lives on in his work, the late Gérald Genta was exceptionally prolific - he claimed to have penned over 100,000 creations. His family still possesses some 3,400 original sketches covering a bewildering diversity of timepieces. From that, a hundred sketches have been curated to form Gérald Genta: Icon of Time, a series of four thematic auctions staged by Sotheby’s in the first half of the year. Geneva, Hong Kong, New York | February-June, 2022.
• Steve McQueen’s Rolex Submariner Is Coming to Auction - "McQueen definitely bought the ref. 5513. Whether he wore it is another question entirely."
• Swiss Watches: Market Share by Brand in 2023 - "Swiss watches are renowned for their precision, craftsmanship, and quality. In this visualization, we rank the top Swiss watch brands based on their estimated 2023 market share, which comes from data provided by LuxeConsult and Morgan Stanley."
• Sylvester Stallone's Grandmaster Chime Sells For $5.4 Million, Evaluating Vintage Patek Philippe Condition & More From New York - "Up close and way too personal with three Patek 1463 chronographs to discuss condition."
• The First Patek Philippe Tiffany Blue 170th Anniversary Nautilus Has Sold for a Staggering US$6.5 Million - "History has just been made at Phillips New York with the sale of the very first Patek Philippe Tiffany & Co. 5711/1A-018 Nautilus."
• The George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon Is The Most Important Watch Of The Auction Season - "It's up for grabs at Phillips this November. Here's what you need to know about this highly significant George Daniels timekeeper."
• The Last Of Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco Watches From ‘Le Mans’ Is Going To Auction - "Your chance to own a significant piece of history from the King of Cool is here: Steve McQueen’s iconic Heuer Monaco is coming to market during Philips’ Racing Pulse auction in New York on December 12th."
• The Luxury Watch Market Presents Opportunities for the Savvy Investor - "The watch market has recently surprised even the most experienced watch experts."
• the psychology of why we collect watches - "Knowledge, kinship & 'celebrity vampirism' - the psychology of why we collect watches." We asked a clinical psychologist who specialises in compulsive behaviour to find out.
• This Patek Philippe is so Rare it Rewrites the History Books - "Described as an ‘end game’ watch for collectors, the watch has an estimate of $3.73m USD." The watch will be offered for sale as part of Phillips’ The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII taking place on May 8 and 9 with an estimate of CHF 3.5m ($3,730,000 USD). The auction is set to be one of the most interesting in recent years having already spawned a number of talking points, from a full set of Patek perpetual calendars to a Roger Smith Series 1 made for London jeweller, Theo Fennell.
• This Trio of Ultra Rare Royal Oak Watches Could Fetch Close to $600,000 at Auction - "Antiquorum will sell the three Audemars Piguet examples at Monte-Carlo’s Hôtel de Paris on July 21st, 2021."
• This Ultra-Rare ‘Pink-on-Pink’ Patek Philippe Watch Is Expected to Fetch Up to $4.5 Million at Auction - "The newly discovered piece will lead Sotheby’s Important Watches Auction in New York on June 9."
• Tiananmen Square watch withdrawn from sale by auction house - "Watch given to Chinese troops who took part in 1989 crackdown pulled by Fellows after vendor received online threats."
• Top 5 Auction Houses To Buy Or Sell A Watch - Forbes.
• Top 10 Watches from Indie Watchmakers at the Upcoming Ineichen Watch Auction - "This coming weekend - November 20-21, 2021, Zurich, Switzerland - will be the house 175th watch auction, with over 200 lots presented, including the usual suspects such as Rolex, Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet (there’s an impressive selection of rare Royal Oak models, if ever you’re interested) but also a fine selection of watches produced by independent watchmakers. Think De Bethune, Gerald Genta, Urwerk and a wide selection of Chaykin watches (something you don’t see that often)."
• ULTIMATE ROLEX DAYTONA by Pucci Papaleo - "The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona timepiece is with no doubts more than just a chronograph: it is true horological icon. Aside from being photographically speaking a homage to industrial still life, 'Ultimate Rolex Daytona' tells the Rolex Daytona story as never done before: an incomparable publication created to showcase the most outstanding photographic collection of Daytonas in the world, from the early pieces of the 1960s to present day production models, highlighting the evolution of design and construction techniques of the famous chronograph. Limited numbered edition of 599 copies".
• Watch Auctioneer Ineichen Sets Five World Records For Works By Independent Watchmakers - "As we head into the fall watch auction season in New York this week, collectors are keeping an eye on lots by independent watchmakers, whose limited-edition pieces are breaking records across the board. The star of the Phillips auction in Geneva last month, for example, was a Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie wristwatch No.1 in yellow gold that sold for $5,182,109, which represents a world record price for any Philippe Dufour and a world record amount paid for any watch by an independent maker. And Sotheby’s sold six F.P. Journes well above estimate at its Geneva auction in November. Even smaller auction houses are charting record sales for independent makers. Zurich auctioneer Ineichen set five world records at its November 21 sale of rare timepieces, including three for F.P. Journe pieces and two for Vianney Halter watches."
• Watch Depreciation: A Closer Look at the Value of Timepieces - "This article seeks to demystify watch depreciation, providing readers with insights into what drives the loss in value of watches over time. Through examining factors such as brand reputation, supply and demand, innovation, and market trends, we aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of how watch values are affected."
• Watch Register - "The leading global database of lost and stolen watches."
• Watch theft is a big deal & Rolex is stolen more than any other timepiece: Report - "Reselling stolen items has always been a huge market, with certain goods favored for their solid returns."
• WatchCharts Overall Market Index - "The WatchCharts Overall Market Index is an indicator of secondary watch market price trends. It is composed of 60 watches taken from the top 10 luxury watch brands, sorted and weighted by transaction value. The index shows the market price movement of this set of watches (in USD) over time, and is rebalanced once per year on January 1st."
• WATCHFINDER & Co. - "Since Watchfinder & Co. was first founded in 2002, it has been established as the premier resource from which to buy and sell premium pre-owned watches. With thousands of watches available from more than 50 brands, including Rolex, Omega, Cartier and more, plus international locations and a manufacturer certified service centre, there’s no better place to find a luxury timepiece."
• Who bought the Tiffany-Blue Patek 5711 at Phillips Auction for US$6.5 million? - "Watch collector Zach Lu - who has just obtained the ultimate un-obtainium watch - looks out on the horizon and spies pieces he can’t have. For instance, another Patek of the same hue, the previously unknown Tiffany-signed Patek Philippe Nautilus 5740 Unique Piece with a Tiffany-Blue dial, which broke the watch internet this past weekend. The owner? Bernard Arnault, the chairman and chief executive of LVMH."
• Why This Wholly Unique Patek Philippe ‘No Moon Phase’ Watch Could Fetch $5 Million at Auction - "On May 22, Christie’s Hong Kong will auction a unique Patek Philippe Reference 3448J specially made for Alan Banbery, one of the most beloved and legendary figures in the firm’s history."
• Why We Spend More For Luxury Watch Brands - "When consumers spend money on most luxury goods, they are, in fact, purchasing two things at once. First, they are purchasing a 'nice object' or service. That is the thing they are acquiring, and for it to be an authentic luxury, it has to be manufactured rather well, often with a refined design and using less-than-ordinary materials. But that alone doesn’t make anything a luxury good. The second thing consumers are purchasing when getting a luxury good is the brand name on the good. This is a more amorphous area of value but a real one nonetheless. When you buy a brand you are in fact purchasing an association with a concept, feeling, image, or status."
• Zurich-Based Ineichen Auctioneers Presents Two High Concept Watch Sales November 20 - 21 Following Main Auction - "Based in Zurich since 1973, the house of Ineichen Auctioneers has long excelled at showcasing prestigious watches powered by horological innovation, technical ingenuity and irresistible artistry. On November 20 and 21st, Ineichen, led by its CEO Artemy Lechbinskiy, opens a dynamic chapter in its history by presenting two special high concept sub-auctions of exceedingly fine timepieces following its primary watch auction. 200 watches are going under the hammer as Ineichen’s auction event takes place in Zurich, and online. The lowest priced lots range run from 500 to 1000 CHF, the medium-priced lots come in at 15,000 to 20,000 CHF and the highest priced watches span between 100,000 and 300,000 CHF."

Top 15 International Watch Auctions & Auctioneers

• ANTIQUORUM - established in Geneva in 1974. "The World’s Premier Auctioneers of Modern and Vintage Timepieces." Antiquorum has carved its own unparalleled niche in the auction world by cultivating a thriving collector’s market for timepieces worldwide and consistently obtains the highest prices for timepieces, auctions timepieces with exceptional provenance and rarity and has set many world records.
• ARTCURIAL - since 2013. International auctioneers. "Our Watch Department has gradually became a major player on the watch market, with a sales programme that alternates with themed sales in Paris and Monaco."
• BONHAMS - founded in 1793. International fine art auctioneers & valuers. "The Bonhams watch department has well-respected and experienced specialists based around the Globe. With bi-annual specialised international auctions in London, New York and Hong Kong and regular sales in Knightsbridge London."
• CHRISTIE'S - founded in 1766. International auctioneers. "Featuring the world’s leading names in watchmaking such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Breguet and Vacheron Constantin, Christie’s watch auctions attract a wide audience of collectors and record-breaking prices for the finest vintage and modern timepieces. We hold sales in Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong and New York throughout the year. At Christie’s we also recognize that collectors are often looking for a specific watch, or are seeking to buy or sell a timepiece outside of the auction season."
• Fellows & Sons - "Jewellery & Watch Auctioneers of Distinction." Founded in Birmingham in 1876, Fellows are a family-run firm of auctioneers and valuers. We hold more than 100 sales a year with specialist watch and jewellery auctions becoming increasingly popular.
• Hindman Auctions & Private Sales - founded in 1982. "Hindman Auctioneers’ Timepieces department handles timepieces from the 16th century to the modern day, including pocket watches, wristwatches, tourbillons and perpetual calendars. Our auctions showcase works by makers such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Panerai, Breitling, Cartier, Piaget, Hermes, Franck Muller, Vacheron Constantin, Carl F. Bucherer, IWC, Audemars Piguet, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., Tag Heuer and many others."
• Ineichen Auctioneers - "Ineichen Auctioneers have been selling watches and jewellery ever since its founding in 1973, delighting collectors and experts alike with exquisite and delicate objects from all eras of watchmaking and goldsmithery." Stadthausquai 11-13, Zurich, Switzerland.
• JAMES LIST - since 2008. "JamesEdition is the world's premier marketplace to find luxury watches for sale. Search more than 30,000 new and used watches from over 200 brands. Quality, luxury and exclusive watches are often worn as a subtle symbol of success to be recognised by like-minded people."
• liveauctioneers - since 2002. "Vintage Watches for Sale & Antique Watches." Bid in watch auctions around the world, anywhere, any time.
• Monaco Legend Group - since 2015. "Monaco Legend Group is an auction house located in the Principality of Monaco which devotes to the sales of rare and collectable watches as well as jewelry."
• Only Watch Charity Auction - world-renowned charitable fundraiser for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, held every two years since 2005.
• Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers - since 2008. "Revolutionizing the world of auctioneering." The innovative concept of Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers uses today’s e-based solutions and new IT technologies, while at the same time, keeping the characteristics of more traditional auction methods. It has been designed to improve certain shortcomings frequently associated with online auctions and online bidding during classic auction sales. Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers is headquartered in Geneva with offices in New York, Milan and Hong Kong. Nine to ten auctions are planned annually between Geneva, New York and Hong Kong.
• PHILLIPS - "Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is the watch department at Phillips auction house, dedicated exclusively to the world's finest collectors' watches. Launched in November 2014 by Aurel Bacs and his partner, Livia Russo, the department was established in response to the ever-increasing need for today's collectors to easily access scholarship, guidance and quality across the board. With multiple world records, including for a wristwatch, Patek Philippe wristwatch, Rolex and Omega at auction, Phillips has become the undisputed worldwide market leader." Currently based in Geneva, New York, Hong Kong and London.
• SOTHEBY'S - established 1744. "Sotheby’s Watches department offers the finest timepieces from the 16th to the 21st centuries, including pocket watches, wristwatches, tourbillons and perpetual calendars. Sotheby's Watches auctions showcase the thriving international nature of this category. Our international team has cultivated strong relationships with the world’s most active collectors and connoisseurs. This is reflected in the wide-ranging and intense global presence at our sales; 1,960 bidders from 72 countries enthusiastically participated in 2016, with Watches NY receiving bidders from 50 countries in December 2016, the highest number in any given sale at Sotheby’s. Our specialists’ combined knowledge and experience is unparalleled in this category and the department has consistently achieved benchmark prices. Sotheby’s continues to hold the auction record for any watch - $24 million for Patek Philippe’s no. 198.385 the Henry Graves Supercomplication, breaking its own record from 1999 when it sold for $11 million." Auctions are held in London, New York, Geneva and Hong Kong.
• Watches of Knightsbridge | WoK - since 2011. "Originating from the antiques quarter of Portobello Road over 50 years ago, the family business has grown and evolved to find its niche in the watch industry - specialising in fine, rare & collectable timepieces. Watches of Knightsbridge have a specialist knowledge & experience in the industry, led by father & son, Simon & Toby Sutton. Their knowledge & passion enables them to source timepieces & give advice to individuals & collectors from all over the world. 'WoK' auctions are conducted in a traditional way by auctioneer Edward Rising alongside live internet & telephone bidding."