The Speedmaster RAID 1/250 reaches 70k€ at a charity auction for the police orphans in Paris.

While I am very happy for the charity and applaud the success for this fund raising auction. However, this performance raises questions in my collector mind.

This was number 1/250, sold by the Omega company to the benefit of the charity, it is to date the most limited run of stainless steel speedmaster (250 units with very few sold to the general public and most to the members of the elite police unit RAID). These elements can explain a part of the amount attained, but can they explain all of it? We are talking of 70k€, roughly $80k.

Is this an anomaly or is the watch promised to a interesting futur?

https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-om...50-ref-031130423001007-ndeg-78798233-m1077-54

 

I am more inclined on the anomaly option...

 

An anomaly, but also remember that in many jurisdictions any money spent on charity whether a donation or an auction, is deductible from one's taxes

 

I can't imagine a better tax write off!

 

Charity and confirmed number 1.

if either have those things had not been present then the auction wouldn’t have hit a 1/4 of the realized value.

 

Is there a probability the hefty price tag triggers an interest in the watch?

 

+1

Does anyone remember if this was an in-person or tele/internet bidder?

More stupid things have managed blood from stone

 

wow that Pam went low.

 

Murky provenance, there's a good chance it wasn't what they said it was. Perezscope on IG did a whole investigation into it

 

I would venture a guess that the 70k final bid is probably (rightly so) motivated by the extremely sympathetic target charity. Additionally of course that 1/250 number helps. I am somewhat certain that (some) millionaires do have feelings and empathy

 

As long, of course, that their empathy is financially beneficial

 

Funny, the auction house had estimated the sale as low as $40-80K.