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zoohannover
·Just saw their Instagram story:
https://www.omegawatches.com/stories/watch-of-a-great-american-writer
https://www.omegawatches.com/stories/watch-of-a-great-american-writer
Edited:
Ralph Ellison's Omega Speedmaster at auction
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Aludic
··@SpeedyBirthYearWhat actually interests me most is what makes Omega decide to feature this - rather run-off-the-mill - vintage Speedmaster. Other than for its provenance, it's not too interesting to my eyes...
Then again, living in Europe, I might under appreciate the relevance Ralph Ellison has/had on (American) society?
Then again, living in Europe, I might under appreciate the relevance Ralph Ellison has/had on (American) society?
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MTROIS
·Very interesting. According to Revolution magazine, the Omega Museum is a potential buyer.
I wonder why they would disclose this… unless they are hoping that other collectors will not drive auctions up as a goodwill gesture for mankind since all would be able to “enjoy” it at a museum. 😗
The other cool part of this story, is how the serial number was confirmed using paperwork unearthed at the library of Congress (LOC). Great sleuth work there!!
And here a few (poor quality - sorry!) of the watch since I was able to preview it in NYC today:
I wonder why they would disclose this… unless they are hoping that other collectors will not drive auctions up as a goodwill gesture for mankind since all would be able to “enjoy” it at a museum. 😗
The other cool part of this story, is how the serial number was confirmed using paperwork unearthed at the library of Congress (LOC). Great sleuth work there!!
And here a few (poor quality - sorry!) of the watch since I was able to preview it in NYC today:
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KeithS
·Then again, living in Europe, I might under appreciate the relevance Ralph Ellison has/had on (American) society?
Ellison is pretty influential. I put Invisible Man in the same league as To Kill a Mocking Bird or Catcher in the Rye (i.e. one the great American classics that often finds itself on the mandatory reading lists of students).
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Annapolis
·The watch sold a bit outside the 10-20k estimate Phillips assigned to it. $667,800. When you tag on the 21% premium, that’s north of $808,000. Not a record, but a lot for a Speedy, even a celebrity-owned one.
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Omegafanman
·It last sold for less than $6000 in 2016.... that is a good deal for someone.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/november-was-a-blow-out-month-for-watches.139363/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/november-was-a-blow-out-month-for-watches.139363/
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MTROIS
·The watch sold a bit outside the 10-20k estimate Phillips assigned to it. $667,800. When you tag on the 21% premium, that’s north of $808,000. Not a record, but a lot for a Speedy, even a celebrity-owned one.
Provenance does carry weight, indeed.
We shall now see if the Omega Museum was the winner of this auction. 🍿
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MTROIS
·If I am not mistaken, and based on my notes, the $667,800.00 number is the final price ALL IN, with the auction premium already included. The hammer price was actually $530,000.00…. Which is still a VERY solid result… and a bit more than the last result of $6,000.00 for this watch!!!! 😗
Provenance does carry weight, indeed.
We shall now see if the Omega Museum was the winner of this auction. 🍿
A little birdie has told me that the Omega Museum HAS INDEED acquired this piece!! 🥰
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerEllison is pretty influential. I put Invisible Man in the same league as To Kill a Mocking Bird or Catcher in the Rye (i.e. one the great American classics that often finds itself on the mandatory reading lists of students).
This book always reminds me of...
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m84
·What actually interests me most is what makes Omega decide to feature this - rather run-off-the-mill - vintage Speedmaster. Other than for its provenance, it's not too interesting to my eyes...
Then again, living in Europe, I might under appreciate the relevance Ralph Ellison has/had on (American) society?
I'm also base in Europe and not aware of the author or his work, but I see this move from Omega in the same way as I saw - and was surprised by - their email announcement of the 4mil 2915: taking advantage of the vintage hype-train and making a marketing effort out of it. Granted I'm not up-to-date on Omega's marketing communication style etc, but it just felt a bit too 'forced' perhaps...
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m84
·A little birdie has told me that the Omega Museum HAS INDEED acquired this piece!! 🥰
"At Phillips Auctions in New York, OMEGA claimed the Speedmaster once worn by legendary American novelist Ralph Ellison, placing a winning bid of 667,800$. The historic timepiece will now take pride of place at the OMEGA Museum in Biel, Switzerland."
- https://www.omegawatches.com/stories/watch-of-a-great-american-writer
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MTROIS
·"At Phillips Auctions in New York, OMEGA claimed the Speedmaster once worn by legendary American novelist Ralph Ellison, placing a winning bid of 667,800$. The historic timepiece will now take pride of place at the OMEGA Museum in Biel, Switzerland."
- https://www.omegawatches.com/stories/watch-of-a-great-american-writer
Indeed!!
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Denarius
·Some big prices being paid recently for different Speedmaster references even if it is Omega bidding..
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Omegafanman
·Some big prices being paid recently for different Speedmaster references even if it is Omega bidding..
I was not planning to let this one go..... It does not have the same provenance, but is one of the last 321 and is just a few days pre-moon.... a mere £100K would just swing it for me..... a bargain. Almost puts this in BOGOF territory I imagine ;0)
.
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G-Web
·From an advertising standpoint, Omega just got a bargain.
$600k is a fraction of Omega's annual global marketing budget. It will buy neither a properly produced TV commercial nor the air time to run it. I doubt it would even cover a day of still photography with George Clooney.
But the short term publicity from the auction win of Ralph Ellison’s Speedmaster, and the long term brand building of displaying it in their museum, are far more powerful and cost effective than any piece of traditional advertising. Omega, we should recall, is no stranger to harnessing the power of illustrious Speedmaster owners over the years. They know its value well.
Personally, I love the fact that Ellison wore a Speedy, and that Omega recognizes his literary and cultural impact. He might not have the same action hero appeal as Armstrong or Aldrin, but in his own way he was no less intrepid.
So congratulations Omega, display it in good health!
Cheers,
-GW
$600k is a fraction of Omega's annual global marketing budget. It will buy neither a properly produced TV commercial nor the air time to run it. I doubt it would even cover a day of still photography with George Clooney.
But the short term publicity from the auction win of Ralph Ellison’s Speedmaster, and the long term brand building of displaying it in their museum, are far more powerful and cost effective than any piece of traditional advertising. Omega, we should recall, is no stranger to harnessing the power of illustrious Speedmaster owners over the years. They know its value well.
Personally, I love the fact that Ellison wore a Speedy, and that Omega recognizes his literary and cultural impact. He might not have the same action hero appeal as Armstrong or Aldrin, but in his own way he was no less intrepid.
So congratulations Omega, display it in good health!
Cheers,
-GW
Edited:
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MTROIS
·From an advertising standpoint, Omega just got a bargain.
$600k is a fraction of Omega's annual global marketing budget. It will buy neither a properly produced TV commercial nor the air time to run it. I doubt it would even cover a day of still photography with George Clooney.
But the short term publicity from the auction win of Ralph Ellison’s Speedmaster, and the long term brand building of displaying it in their museum, are far more powerful and cost effective than any piece of traditional advertising. Omega, we should recall, is no stranger to harnessing the power of illustrious Speedmaster owners over the years. They know its value well.
Personally, I love the fact that Ellison wore a Speedy, and that Omega recognizes his literary and cultural impact. He might not have the same action hero appeal as Armstrong or Aldrin, but in his own way he was no less intrepid.
So congratulations Omega, display it in good health!
Cheers,
-GW
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onthedial
·I am the consignor of the Ralph Ellison Omega Speedmaster. The provenance research I conducted over several years was a labor of love. I remember when the initial pieces of the puzzle first started coming together. I stared at the watch in my hand and realized I was holding one of the most important wristwatches of the late 20th century, it was a revelatory moment. And there was still much more work to be done.
The way in which the Phillips team embraced the watch, and its story was incredibly humbling. With this past Sunday’s result--the reference 145.012 reaching a world record for price achieved at auction, and the watch being acquired by the Omega Museum--I could not imagine a more perfect ending. Yet it’s not an ending at all, for the watch will be seen and experienced in a public setting from this point forward.
The way in which the Phillips team embraced the watch, and its story was incredibly humbling. With this past Sunday’s result--the reference 145.012 reaching a world record for price achieved at auction, and the watch being acquired by the Omega Museum--I could not imagine a more perfect ending. Yet it’s not an ending at all, for the watch will be seen and experienced in a public setting from this point forward.
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stonestone
·With this past Sunday’s result--the reference 145.012 reaching a world record for price achieved at auction, and the watch being acquired by the Omega Museum--I could not imagine a more perfect ending. Yet it’s not an ending at all, for the watch will be seen and experienced in a public setting from this point forward.
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Denarius
·Well written… and I will also say that I am glad this was not the watch of another “white rich dude”. It is great to see some additional racial diversity as well. 👍
Hmmm, personally the race of the owner has never entered my mind when taking an interest in vintage watches and the term "another white rich dude" is quite crass.
I find the owners achievements and impact they had on the human race of more interest regardless of their colour..
