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Christie’s Speedmaster 50 Auction Report

  1. Robert-Jan #SpeedyTuesday Dec 16, 2015

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    Yesterday evening, Christie’s held their Speedmaster 50 Auction in New York. Although no-one of our team could be there on location, we did get some help from Sacha Davidoff for this report. He is one of the founders and owners of Davidoff Brothers, the boutique for vintage watches in Geneva. He was in New York to witness the auction and spoke to one of the guys who submitted a substantial amount of watches for the auction, Riccardo Bernard. Sacha Davidoff: “Riccardo Bernard is the major contributor, in terms of the Christie’s Speedmaster 50 auction collection. He is a collector with […]

    The article Christie’s Speedmaster 50 Auction Report appeared first on Fratello Watches.
     
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  2. shoota70 Dec 16, 2015

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    Hodinkee reported that the 2915-1 was purchased by Omega Museum for $137k. For whatever reason that doesn't sit well with me.
     
  3. DLT222 Double D @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 16, 2015

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    Nice report RJ! Thx
     
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  4. E-diddy Dec 16, 2015

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    How come? It's not uncommon for a manufacturer to purchase pieces for its museum.
     
  5. repoman Dec 16, 2015

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    By having it in the Omega museum, countless people will how have a chance to see and enjoy this piece. I'm perfectly fine with Omega buying it to put in their museum. What would annoy me is if they were buying pieces to take them out of private ownership or to artificially inflate the market, neither of which was happening here.
     
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  6. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Dec 16, 2015

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    How do you know what their motivations are? :)
     
  7. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 16, 2015

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    Omega are more and more frequently circulating vintage pieces like 2915s from the museum around various boutiques to give buyers and owners the historical context behind their modern pieces, I'm guessing a lot of their acquisitions are also going to be shown around in that sense rather than being static exhibits in the museum too.
     
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  8. Faz Dec 16, 2015

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    My goodness...Amazing results! And to think that I purchased my first 145.012-68 10 years ago for $1400.00!!!

    Cheers,
     
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  9. repoman Dec 16, 2015

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    One never really knows what's in a person's heart (or more accurately, the corporate board room), but I base my assumption (and its only an assumption) on the following:

    1. Omega has stated publicly they are putting the Evan's Speedy in the museum. I'm assuming the other pieces will go there as well.
    2. There was no shill bidding happening to inflate the prices, Omega bid fair and square to get the pieces.
     
  10. DLT222 Double D @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 16, 2015

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    Seen earlier today....


    [​IMG]
     
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  11. shoota70 Dec 16, 2015

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    I believe they do it to get the price higher and puff their own feathers.
     
  12. DLT222 Double D @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 16, 2015

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    Not sure how that would work? Its a watch thats been flown on an actual mission, Apollo 17. Buying this would not make Omega sell any more watches than they already do.
     
  13. cuts33 Dec 16, 2015

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    The article said they were the underbidder - so they did not buy it.

    Omega bought the Ron Evans Speedmaster. for $245K.
     
  14. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Dec 16, 2015

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    I was there
    I don't think the museum bought it.
     
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  15. DB1983 Dec 30, 2015

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    The museum was the underbidder. The online bidder in Colombier, Switzerland won the auction. I heard some rumors that was someone from Swatch group, but nothing confirmed. In any case, I was in the room and definitely was not Omega Museum. They won 3 lots: Ron Evans flown watch, 18K Mark II and the pair of LCD Quartz Speedies submitted to NASA for Alaska project.
     
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