Hey All, Here is a copy of the catalogue offered at this auction. http://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/CH080016 Probably the best set of watches I have ever seen being offered in one place. This auction is for sure going to smash records. What are your thoughts of whats being offered and what will the outcome be?
Incredible watches all (well maybe except for the Hublot ) - rare, every single one of them, and in top condition for the most part. As a collector it is hard not the be frustrated with the high estimates that are going to be indubitably crushed, but this once again showcases Aurel Bacs' exquisite taste in watches and his understanding of the market. Steel chronographs are where it's at right now, and while these are all watches that have been actively sought after by certain collectors, Bacs is creating a "new-to-market" effect for his high-end clients and forcefully educating them on watches other than Rolexes and Pateks. I can certainly waste time complaining about the Bacs lemmings that allows others to create their tastes for them, but I'd rather talk about the watches themselves. My favorites: Longines 13zn-12 (personal grail): 40k-80k I'd be surprised if this doesn't hit six figures. One of the best watches ever made imho and in stunning condition. Eberhard Split-second Valjoux 86: 25k - 50k My favorite split-second chronograph in the whole auction. Lovely dial and stepped bezel 40mm case Movado Sub-Sea M95: 12k-24k Because of the use of the same casemaker as the Patek 1463 (Francois Borgel), some have considered this watch a sort of Poor-man's Patek. Some of the details like the Breguet numerals, the serpentine "kris" hands, and the superior in-house M95 movement makes this one more attractive to me than even the world-shattering-ly beautiful 1463 in this same auction. Patek 1579: 450k-900k This should reach 7 figures easily. Aesthetically one of best watches ever made and super rare in steel. Universal Film-Compax: 12k-24k One of the rarest UG watches ever. It's too bad that the case has been slightly over-polished, but the dial is one of the better ones I've seen. Zenith cal. 143-1-3 (Excelsior Park): 10k-20k Yowza. me want Can't not talk about Omega watches: Speedmaster 2999-1: 25k-50k Speedmaster 145.012-67 Racing: 30k-60k Speedmaster 145.022 Racing: 15k-30k Still room for growth on these even after the recent jump? Omega CK988 Cal. 33.3: 20k-40k One of the best chronograph movements of all time and one of my favorite Omega references. Pretty sure that is an incorrect minute register hand though. More favorites than time to be sure. I fully expect most of the hammer results to exceed the estimates as most of these are blue chip watches, but the watches that I am most curious about are the more obscure manufactures. Grana Split Second: 20k-40k Record Split Second: 15k-30k Juvenia Split Second: 15k-30k Cyma: 8k-16k I wasn't even aware that there was a Grana split-second chronograph in existence. Are the estimates for the Recond and Juvenia too high? too low? The estimate for the Cyma is way too high imo considering the lack of exposure and knowledge about these watches.
If I had a lot more money I might want to look into those Type XXs and the BP Air Command. Anyone have details/thoughts on those?
I don't think those estimates are too high, someone is going to want to walk away with something from that auction!
DROOL. FACTOR. 11. I'd take any of the split seconds or 33.3s.... who am I kidding, I'll take any of the watches in the auction. Just stunning.
Other than lot 32 (the so-called "big eye" (a moniker more often associated with UG) the Breugets don't move me much, unless they stay at the bottom end of the estimates. That Mathey Tissot though... Yum.
Let me say it for the record: I do not regret purchasing anything when I did, and I am sorry I did not buy more of everything.
All of them up to the present. This guys Bacs is mining well outside of the usual Patek/Rolex auction fodder, and hitting stuff I never thought would go under the gavel at a major auction house.
Why collect Patel or Rolex when the longines chrono all kick ass and at 1/10the price What the fuck with hublot....does not fit in this auction...
The overall condition is nice but the chronograph seconds hand is incorrect. I also think that the Movado pick of the auction is Lot 5: http://www.phillips.com/detail/MOVADO/CH080016/5 This case style is much less common than that of the aforementioned Lot 81 and more beautiful IMO. The pushers are identical to the ones used on the 1463 and the case closely resembles the 565.
That's a nice catch. The basic shape is similar so I didn't notice, but you are right it's shorter and smaller than it should be
I have edited my original post as I am now on the fence about this example: http://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=35233003
Wow! Thanks for sharing...that's an Aladdins cave if ever I saw one. Personally, I like this Blancpain Air Command. The price though!
Yes, and identical to those used on a superbly designed chrono that goes for a small fraction of what most of these will sell for. But shhhhh!, don't tell anyone!