We are in the midst of auction season and auction is a great place to buy a watch. Since I work at Christie’s, I’m going to give you the lowdown on how the process works here, but it’s probably similar at the other auction houses. You might be intimidated ... Read more
If you’re a watch geek you’re probably aware of the unofficial contest between Henry Graves and James Ward Packard of luxury car fame to own the most complicated watch. Graves won competition with a Patek Philippe Supercomplication with 24 functions delivered in 1933. Patek Philippe, along with Vacheron Constantin, was ... Read more
Yes, people, pink gold is in on bracelets. Even the guys are getting in on the game (think Brad Pitt with the Patek World Time seen below). While steel is cool — both on the color wheel and in the “you can’t go wrong with it look”, pink gold is ... Read more
In the past few decades, ladies have been largely ignored in haute horlogerie. After the invention of quartz in the 1970′s, the prevailing “wisdom” was that women preferred the convenience of a battery-powered movement. No worry or cares about having to reset the watch and it would always be on ... Read more
Prior to the Patek Phiilippe 1518 released in 1941, there wasn’t a company that did a series of watches that had a combination of the complications perpetual calendar and chronograph. It’s no mean feat to marry these two together. With these two complications, the watch incorporates two of the three ... Read more
There’s no one who loves and appreciates watches more than Aurel Bacs, the International Head of Watches aChristie’s. A respected expert and dynamic auctioneer, Bacs gives us a rare view into watches, pulling back the curtain on the process and collecting. You see him in action at auction, feeling the ... Read more
It’s no secret that the mechanical watches business is mostly a man’s world. As fans of the technical and mechanical, men are attracted to the little wrist machines that can do everything from tell the basic time to keep track of moonphases, monitor the entire calendar for hundreds of years ... Read more
Chronographs are a popular complication and Patek Philippe vintage chronos can bring big dollars. Take, for example, a Patek Philippe Ref. 130 in pink gold. It can go from anywhere between $30,000-60,000 and up depending upon dial and condition. Obviously, that’s a significant chunk of change. In contrast, a ... Read more
Gordon Bethune is auctioning off an amazing collection of watches consisting mostly of Patek Philippe and Rolex with some Vacheron Constantin in the mix. There are many opportunities to own one of Bethune’s pieces as he collected everything to from the affordable to the dream. And we know how important ... Read more
Since I’m in the auction world, I have the unique opportunity to interact with all types of watch collectors. Some choose to build around a certain theme, whether it’s chronographs, dive watches or within a particular brand. But I offer up another alternative for your consideration. What if instead of ... Read more