From Rare Harry Winston Pieces To A 127-Carat Diamond, Christie’s New York Presents The Magnificent Jewels Auction

Perhaps the focal point of the Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels Auction is The Light of Peace Diamond at 127 carats.

By Adrienne Faurote

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé Becomes Most Valuable Car in the World

RM Sotheby's has sold one of two famed 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés for upwards of $142M, making it the most valuable car in the world.

Gérald Genta’s Most Iconic Designs Up For Auction

No other designer has left such a mark on the industry as Gérald Genta. He was the man that gave us two of the most important stainless steel sports watches in history, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. As a true creative force, it didn't stop there, as he also worked for various other brands, designing icon after icon. A decade after his death, we get a rare glimpse into his archive as Sotheby's is auctioning one hundred of his original designs, including those of the Nautilus and the Royal Oak.

The Outstanding Results of Only Watch 2021

Only Watch has always been a charity with a unique approach. They fund research to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by organizing a biennial auction for which the world's leading watch manufacturers donate a piece unique. This weekend, Christie's auctioned the 53 creations in a packed Palexpo in Geneva, raising CHF 30 million, over 32 million US dollars.

Throwback Thursday: Ulysse Nardin Minute Repeater

Ulysse Nardin is a brand that has not only a rich heritage but also a very diverse one. The brand was founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland, and quickly made a name for itself with its high precision chronometers. While Ulysse Nardin has always thrived in mechanical excellence, they have presented their watches in a wide variety of different styles. Whether it is restrained or progressive, the brand's most outstanding achievement is most likely that they have all made it their own. Their DNA is undeniably present in all creations, including this exceptional minute repeater from 1950.

Throwback Thursday With An Officer And A Gentleman From Patek Philippe

There is nothing quite like owning, and wearing, a watch that was made nearly a century ago. In particular, when this watch is from Patek Philippe. In the early 1920s, the brand has just started the production of wrist chronographs, and this specific watch from 1924 is a perfect example of their lasting beauty. It was part of a production run of just 27 pieces, all equipped with a single-button chronograph movement. Sixteen of them were fitted with a so-called officers-case with double hinges.

A Record-Breaking Weekend At The Geneva Watch Auctions

This weekend in Geneva, the traditional watch auctions took place. Things were different than before, as many Covid-19 precautions were still in place. Also, a lot of collectors and dealers could not travel to the auctions themselves due to various travel restrictions. This also meant that they could not examine the watches themselves before the sale, although various digital initiatives tried to give them as much information as possible. That made it that the auctions could definitely be seen as a test on how the outbreak of Covid-19 would impact the vintage watch market.

Future Classic: Vacheron Constantin Hommage Aux Grands Explorateurs “Marco Polo”

Some watches are too young to be considered a classic, yet despite this firmly on their way of achieving this status as the years will pass. A good example of this is the Vacheron Constantin Hommage Aux Grands Explorateurs "Marco Polo." Paying tribute to the greatest explorers of all time did Vacheron Constantin map out Marco Polo's travels over the silk road. They do so in cloisonné enamel and dedicate the vast majority of the dial to it.

Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XI: Get Ready For Owning A Bit Of Biver

Jean-Claude Biver gave us very recently an insight into his private collection of watches. A unique experience, as the man who resurrected Blancpain and turned Hublot into a watchmaking powerhouse, is known for his exquisite taste. Now serving as non-executive President of the LVMH Group Watch Division, he is as retired as he will ever be and able to dedicating part of his time to sharing his passion for watchmaking as a whole. In collaboration with auctioneer Phillips, he is now selling four pieces from his private collection, allowing you to own a bit of Biver.

2020: What To Expect From A New Decade Of Watches?

Moving into another year is always something, but entering an entirely new decade seems to come with even higher expectations. The last decade was a turbulent one, with rapid innovations of which one, the smartwatch, was accompanied by a potential cloud of doom for the traditional watch industry. While primarily the Apple watch sold very well, the watch industry wasn't plunged into another quartz crisis. Many now consider that smartwatches got a new and young generation of customers used to wearing something around their wrist. As a result, they also are curious about what else there is to wear, and then the magic of tiny little gears, levers, and other parts that work together in an astonishing precision seems to be hard to resist. In the new decade, the smartwatches with undoubtfully hold their ground, as their technological features will ever increase. Still, they will no longer be an imminent threat to the mechanical watch industry.

The Record Shattering 2019 Edition Of Only Watch

Records are there to be broken, but who would have thought that this would happen last weekend at Christies' in Geneva, Switzerland in such a spectacular way? There the biennial auction to support the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Only Watch, took place. It consisted out of 50 one-of-a-kind watches donated by the respective brands. The auction raised a very impressive CHF 38,593,000,- of which CHF 31,000,000,- was contributed by the sale of a single watch; the only stainless steel Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010.

Unusual Vintage Rolex Watches That Sold Big At Auction

By and large, Rolex watches have established themselves as icons in the fine timepiece space by sticking to signature design hallmarks while continuously improving. The improvements have occurred gradually over the years and the brand’s evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach has certainly paid off. This method probably explains why when a Rolex oddball shows up on the auction block, it will likely turn heads and open wallets

What Current Watches Will Be Tomorrows Auction Favorites?

It has happened to many watch collectors; they look over a list of watches that have been auctioned off only to realise that they didn't buy a specific model years ago when its prices were much more modest. It remains very complex to determine beforehand which watches will show a strong value over the years. Rarity plays a role, as well who made the watch, but as the Paul Newman Daytona probably proofs best, they might currently not even be among the most popular timepieces available! These four watches might be up there one day:

Hands-On With A Unique Platinum Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3800/1

A Nautilus is by any means a desirable watch, but even among its peers, some rank higher on the scale than others. This also depends on what type of collector you are. Some want the very first version, while others prefer a more recent edition with complications. For those who want something really, really rare, is this platinum Nautilus is right up their alley!

Throwback Thursday: Rolex Submariner “Meters first”

Part of the appeal of the earlier Rolex Submariners is that they transport you to a different time. A time in which these type of watches where worn by people who mainly bought them as a tool for their chosen profession. People that explored the world, that went to places, and in case of the Submariner, depths that no human being has gone before. That appeal can still be found in this Rolex, but especially in the earlier models.

Daytona Ultimatum: Turning Up The Heat For The Hottest Daytonas

It was hot this weekend in Geneva, very hot. Not so much the actual temperature in the city, but the atmosphere at the at the Daytona Ultimatum auction organized by Phillips. Some of the rarest Rolex Daytonas were up for grabs, and many bidders, worldwide, bid up against each other in order to add them to their collection. The results where conclusive: the Rolex Daytona is one of the hottest models in the vintage market!

Chronoswiss Puts Bitcoin Limited Edition Up For Auction

It may come as a surprise: a classic watch brand such as Chronoswiss to dedicate a limited edition to a cryptocurrency. This is however not as strange as it perhaps seems because when Chronoswiss was founded quartz was still the way of the future. History told us otherwise, and Chronoswiss was ahead of that curve.