TWA's Top Picks from Antiquorum's Upcoming Geneva Sale
Antiquorum, the watch world's premier auction house dedicated solely to the sale of fine wristwatches and clocks, will be holding their annual "Modern & Vintage Timepieces" auction on March 15th in Geneva. Of the 401 lots offered in this impressive sale, three especially strike me as aesthetically pleasing and investment-worthy buys. Also, in this instance, these three watches have an estimate lesser than $20,000 a piece; therefore, they can be considered somewhat "budget-friendly" by watch collecting standards.
ROLEX DAY-DATE REF. 18238 MALACHITE DIAL
Rolex's Day-Date happens to be one of my all-time favorite vintage Rolexes. This watch has a wealth of historical significance and it's elegant, yet understated. But I actually find the variation in dial materials, textures, and colors to be the most fascinating aspect of the Day-Date. This extremely fine example features a rare Malachite dial. Apart from that dial, the rest of the watch is identical to any other Day-Date. But then again, most of a watch's value is associated with the dial. It's unlikely that you'll find another Malachite Day-Date in this condition anytime soon. If I was given $20,000 to spend on one ultra-mint Rolex, I'd surely choose this lot.
Estimate: $15,000-$19,500
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 570 YELLOW GOLD
Patek Philippe has irrefutably manufactured the finest mechanical timepieces known to man. Their reference 570, an oversized adaptation of the iconic Calatrava, is presented here in its purest form: Cased in 18 karat yellow gold and fitted with an untouched off-white dial. This 570 offers the most bang for your buck, if you will, relative to other Calatravas in this sale. Seldom do we come across such a rare watch at such a reasonable dollar amount.
Estimate: $10,000-$15,000
BREITLING REF. 762
To be terribly honest, I never have been much of a Breitling fan. But all of a sudden, my viewpoint has drastically changed. This reference 762 split-seconds chronograph is awesome and there's no better word to describe it! A brilliant steel case (with bevels intact), a superb movement, and a handsome dial combine to create this wonderful example of a historic timing instrument built for purpose and, quite often, utilized by pilots.
Estimate: $7,600-$9,700
For further information, please visit www.antiquorum.com.