Halfway through another remarkable year for watch auctions, surprising changes in collector interest are causing waves. Amid significant global economic and geopolitical challenges, the resilience of the watch auction market continues to astound. According to Remi Guillemin, Christie’s Head of Watches for the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East, trends amongst top watch aficionados have shifted grandly, contributing to a pivotal period in watch auctions.
With record-setting results cropping up across prominent auction houses, Guillemin notes a profound flux compared to the auction dynamics witnessed in the immediate post-Covid BOOM era of 2021-2022. Unusually, references from F.P. Journe and Cartier are now the hot-button items generating ripples amongst bidders. A punchier surprise comes from the surging demand for pocket watches, previously a snooze in the high-stakes auction scene.
Every summer, automotive enthusiasts and luxury car collectors gather in Monterey, California for the historic Monterey Car Week. Over the course of the event’s ten days, attendees have the chance to witness the beauty and history of some of the rarest and most magnificent cars ever created. As well as races, rallies, and prestigious car shows, there is also the opportunity for collectors to acquire a piece of automotive history at auction.
This year, the auctions highlight two of the finest cars ever built in the United States: a 1933 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe and a 1948 Tucker 48.