Well, today December 11th, 2021 in New York City, this new Patek Nautilus Tiffany 170th Anniversary ref. 5711/1A-018 just sold for $6.5 million USD at Phillips. The world of watch collecting has finally just lost its sanity. I can only think that some of the reasons behind these prices in the watch market have to do with money-laundering schemes, tax write-offs through charitable contributions, using watches as money instruments to transport funds between countries without the need to report them and/or some people who made so much money through crypto-currencies that simply don’t care anymore and would pay anything to have what they want.
Posts filed under From the Editor
From the Editor: The 'Hyped' Patek Nautilus 5711 Tiffany 170th Anniversary and My Thoughts on Double-Signed Watches
In the last decade, double-signed watches have become a thing and are now some of the most coveted timepieces out there. When I look back at auction results from twenty or thirty years ago —yes I have some very old catalogs in my possession—, these double-signed watches were not priced like they are today. Commanding a high premium when compared to models that don’t include the name of a famous retailer on their dials, double-signed timepieces have simply skyrocketed.
From the Editor: My Visit to The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus
Almost a month ago while I was in Geneva attending the GPHG, I finally visited the new Audemars Piguet museum ‘Musée Atelier’. After many visits to Le Brassus and the ‘old Audemars Piguet Museum’, every trip to Le Brassus has its touch of magic and a special charm that is sometimes hard for me to describe. Back in 2013, right after I had just launched WCL, I visited the AP Museum for the very first time. A year later, Audemars Piguet decided to expand the original museum and the idea to create the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet was born.
From the Editor: Behind the Scenes as a Juror at the 2021 GPHG and the Winning Watches
When I launched WCL eight years ago, I never imagined one day I’d be part of the jury for the most important awards in the watch industry, pretty much the ‘Oscars’ for watches. Last week on Monday, November 1st, 2021, I gathered at the Musée Rath in Geneva, Switzerland along with 29 other jury members to vote for the watches competing at the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG.
From the Editor: Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XIV Sets a Record for the Highest Ever Watch Sale Achieving Almost $75 Million USD
Last week while I was attending the GPHG 2021 as part of the jury and on my way back from visiting the new Audemars Piguet Musée Atelier in Le Brassus —special feature about it to follow—, I decided to stop by the La Réserve Genève Hotel to preview some of the lots that were offered by Phillips for their Geneva Watch Auction: XIV. Honestly, I have never seen so many incredible watches under one tent and I took some candid shots of some of them for your viewing pleasure.
From the Editor: Why is the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar Not More Popular?
When the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar was presented at the SIHH 2019 I was quite impressed by it, but unfortunately I didn’t get to spend much time with it back then. Later that year, I got to peruse the watch a second time and it continued to grow on me. Then, recently, I ran into a collector who was wearing one and I thought I should talk more about it because I still can’t understand why this watch is not more popular.
From the Editor: Why the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Chronograph is a Much Better Buy than a Rolex Submariner Date
For some time, I have been thinking about getting a new diving watch and I’ve been debating between the latest 41 mm Rolex Submariner Date —I’ve owned a number of Submariners across different references— or an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co‑Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph. Finally, I decided to go with the Omega and now I am going to tell you why I think that the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Chronograph is a much better buy than a Rolex Submariner Date, especially considering the current pricing bubble.
From the Editor: Celebrate Mexican Independence Day with my Favorite AP Royal Oak Offshore. The 'Pride of Mexico'.
Today, along with all my fellow Mexican watch collectors, I celebrate Mexican Independence Day and there’s no better watch that I would like to talk about for the occasion than the ultra elusive Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Mexico'.
From the Editor: What Happens when a Secondary Market Watch Dealer Like WatchBox Invests in an Independent Brand Like De Bethune?
This morning it was announced that WatchBox —a secondary market-leading platform for buying and trading luxury timepieces— was investing in independent watchmaking brand De Bethune. WatchBox was launched at the end of 2019 by watch industry veterans Danny Govberg —CEO of Govberg Jewelers in Philadelphia— and Liam Wee Tay —former owner of Sincere Fine Watches the oldest watch retailer in Singapore—, along with investor-entrepreneur Justin Reis to transform the pre-owned luxury watch category.
From the Editor: MCT, Franc Vila, Badollet, Breva Genève, JeanRichard, Romain Jerome, Cabestan and HYT Watches are Long Gone. Who's Else is Still Alive?
I love independent watchmaking as much as I love watch manufactures that have been around for centuries. I have a soft spot for the independents because I admire their disruptive behavior, tenacity and the high impact creativity they bring to the watch industry. From brands like MB&F to Urwerk and everything in between, I have a little bit of love for each and every one of them for many reasons.
From the Editor: Girard-Perregaux Laureato the Best Option When You Can't Have a Nautilus or a Royal Oak
Since its release in 2016 to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the manufacture, the new Laureato has been on my radar as a watch that could easily compete against an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15500ST with a blue dial or a Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711/1A-010 blue dial. Considering today’s watch market, as it is nearly impossible to find an AP Royal Oak or a Patek Nautilus, let alone pay retail price for them, the best option when you can’t have either is the Girard-Perregaux Laureato ref. 81010 and here are some of the reasons why.
From the Editor: My Seven Stolen Watches and the Worst Night of My Life
I’ve been very hermetic about what happened to me the night of September 27, 2019; however, with watch theft on the rise around the globe, I’ve decided to finally share with all of you what happened to me and how I was stripped off of seven watches in my collection in what I like to call the worst night of my life. Some of you probably heard about it through Instagram as I shared pictures of the stolen watches with their serial numbers back then. However, the vast majority of you our readers have not heard about this violent crime.
From the Editor: Seems I've Identified the Gregory Pau that Consigned the Olive Green Patek Nautilus to Antiquorum
Well, I’ve done my thorough research as this is a very hot topic. Yesterday, I told you about the Patek Philippe Nautilus ‘Olive Green’ ref. 5711/1A-014 that sold for almost half a million dollars —$490,000 USD to be precise— at the Antiquorum auction in Monaco. After my rant about the watch industry and the nonsense going on with regards to the pricing bubble and the lack of inventory from brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex, it’s time to now release some details on who the consigner of the watch seems to be.
From the Editor: Sealed Patek Nautilus 'Olive Green' Sold for $490,000 USD by Antiquorum Showing the Original Purchaser's Name. What's Next?
When I saw Antiquorum’s lot 152 —the new Patek Philippe Nautilus ‘Olive Green’ ref. 5711/1A-014— offered for sale at their auction at the Monte Carlo Hotel de Paris in Monaco today, the first questions that came to my mind were: Where is the watch industry going? Why are some watch collectors so greedy? Is someone getting blacklisted over this?
From the Editor: Why I think the Tudor Big Block ref. 94300 is Better than a Vintage Rolex Daytona ref. 6265
For nearly half a century, Tudor has made chronographs with an unmistakable look resembling its big brother the Rolex Daytona. Released in 1976 the Tudor ‘Big Block’ chronograph is in my opinion the epitome of a vintage chronograph made to last and to look good forever. Why I think that the Tudor Big Block’ is a much better option than a vintage Rolex Daytona is something I will address later in this article.
From the Editor: Knockoff Watches Keep Crossing the Fine Line of Intellectual Property Infringement. Enough is Enough and Something Should Be Done.
What began with brands like Invicta or T.W. Steel copying the designs of Rolex professional watches, U-Boat, and some other brands alike, has now turned into a situation that is totally out of control and not regulated at all. Furthermore, there are now hundreds of these ‘knockoff’ brands that keep crossing the fine lines of intellectual property infringement and have become plain ‘copycats’ profiting from iconic designs of major luxury watch brands. Do I consider this wrong and infuriating? Of course, I do. To say the least.
From the Editor: Watch Concierge Service by WCL. We'll Help you Find the Watch of Your Dreams.
If you have been looking for a specific timepiece that you just can’t find, no worries. Here at WCL, we are launching a new Watch Concierge Service where we can help you source it. We have a wide network of private collectors, authorized dealers, resellers, secondary market dealers, and close friends we usually work with.
From the Editor: A Disassembled Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Panda'. A Feast for the Eyes of AP Fans.
Mexico City is one of the watch capitals of the world. Regardless of the crime wave that has hit the country over the last 20 years, hardcore watch collectors trade pieces and buy/sell watches on a regular basis. More than eight years ago on one of my visits to Mexico City, I decided to call one of my favorite preowned watch dealers in the city and pay him a visit. I still remember like it was yesterday, when I purchased from him my very first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo A-Series back in 1998.
From the Editor: My Honest Thoughts on the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept 'Black Panther' Flying Tourbillon
Never in my wildest dreams, I would’ve imagined I’d be writing something like this. As you all know, I’ve been a fan of Audemars Piguet since 1998 when I purchased my first Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402 A-series and it is no secret that AP is one of my three favorite watch brands.
From the Editor: AP Royal Oak Extra-Thin 'Jumbo' 15202ST Pricing Skyrockets as the King is Dead, Long Live the King!
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin ‘Jumbo’ reference 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01 released in 2012 —to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak— is as close as it gets to owning the original Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST from 1972.
