Page 30 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Januray 2020
P. 30
(l-r) Cartier’s Crash wristwatch, 1967; a rare Tank wrist-
watch from 1920; the Cartier Tonneau circa 1915, once This 1942 18kt yellow gold Audemars Piguet is
owned by King Constantine I of Greece part of a private collection, Ticking away inside
this vintage AP chronograph is the Valjoux 13
Center: Described as a “1970s Unusual Case Basis Firebird VZA. When produced, Audemars Piguet only made
Very Funky” online, this watch is currently selling for $495 395 pieces of this particular chronograph.
at justintoscooters.com photo: Bexsonn.com
a specific vintage watch or brand. Rolex’s mid-century “Star athletes who have been traded have been known
Submariner watches are forever associated with Sean to trade a Rolex to a player on their new team to secure
Connery’s James Bond. The Patek Philippe Nautilus, a their old jersey number. And in recent years, several have
triumph of 1970s mod design, conjures images of morphed into certifiable watch snobs. Howie
Concorde flights and fondue parties. It took twelve Kendrick of the Washington Nationals, for
minutes for Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona to example, counts understated heirlooms—like a
make history, but it was the watch’s unique history 1959 LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm and a 1960s
and association that made it worth millions. Breitling Superocean—as key elements of his
off-field uniform.”
Celebrity Collectors
The high-end watch market is a strong Clues to Determining Value
investment vehicle for wealthy people, according What you see may not always be what you
to the 2019 New York Times article “Watches Are have in the vintage watch market. Sometimes,
Yet Another Easy Way Rich People Make Their the value can be found beneath the surface – and
Money Into More Money,” which dished on some starts with the name of the watchmaker.
known celebrity vintage watch collectors: Most watches found in the vintage marketplace will
have a name on the dial identifying the maker; however,
“John Mayer’s watch collection is nearly as famous as that is not always the case. Here is where you have to
his guitar work. His bank vault contains a vast array of col- take a closer look and do some research.
lectibles, including sapphire-encrusted gold Rolexes and Some vintage watches might just say “Swiss” on the
Luftwaffe watches from World War II that he has said is This stainless steel ca. late face. In those cases, opening the back of the
1940s Jaeger LeCoultre
valued in the ‘tens of millions.’ watch may provide more clues to determine
Memovox is
“Silicon Valley heavyweights like Kevin Rose, the Digg selling online for who made the movement, although
$3,350 at
founder, and Matt Jacobson – Facebook’s employee No. 8, aaronfaber.com the maker of the movement doesn’t
have museum-worthy Rolexes and Patek Philippes, helping always indicate the brand of the
to establish a head-turning timepiece as a tech-world style timepiece. Another place to look
flourish to rival the hoodie. for the watch’s brand name is on
the inside of the case.
“Ellen DeGeneres wore a
holy-grail Paul Newman-model Ladies’ Vintage Gruen wristwatch
Rolex Daytona from the 1960s, sold at Ruby Lane. Gruen was one
now worth perhaps $250,000 of the first US watch companies to
while bantering with Jerry Seinfeld offer basic movements produced in
in an episode of Comedians in Cars Switzerland, in a wide variety
Getting Coffee last year. (Adam of cases and prices, but
Levine and Ed Sheeran have been adjusted, dialed, and cased
spotted wearing Paul Newmans as in the United States.
well. One also made a cameo on
the wrist of Pierre Png’s character
in Crazy Rich Asians.)
“In professional sports, high-
end timepieces have long seemed In some instances, the name on the face is that of a store or other
as indispensable as a shoe contract business entity. Tiffany & Co. is an example in this instance. Many
for stars with seven- and eight- companies commissioned branded timepieces from Tiffany’s to give as
figure incomes. Top athletes gifts. So, when you open the back, the movement will have a different
including Rafael Nadal, Dwyane name than that on the dial.
Ellen Degeneres wearing her vintage Wade, and LeBron James Some makers made lines under different brand names. Rolex is a
have
Rolex 1655 Explorer II served as celebrity ambassadors for well-known luxury watch brand. But did you know, they also marketed
photo: Fame Pictures
brands like Richard Mille, Hublot, lines of watches under other brand names like Tudor, Unicorn,
and Audemars Piguet. Marconi, Rolco, and Genex?
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
28
watch from 1920; the Cartier Tonneau circa 1915, once This 1942 18kt yellow gold Audemars Piguet is
owned by King Constantine I of Greece part of a private collection, Ticking away inside
this vintage AP chronograph is the Valjoux 13
Center: Described as a “1970s Unusual Case Basis Firebird VZA. When produced, Audemars Piguet only made
Very Funky” online, this watch is currently selling for $495 395 pieces of this particular chronograph.
at justintoscooters.com photo: Bexsonn.com
a specific vintage watch or brand. Rolex’s mid-century “Star athletes who have been traded have been known
Submariner watches are forever associated with Sean to trade a Rolex to a player on their new team to secure
Connery’s James Bond. The Patek Philippe Nautilus, a their old jersey number. And in recent years, several have
triumph of 1970s mod design, conjures images of morphed into certifiable watch snobs. Howie
Concorde flights and fondue parties. It took twelve Kendrick of the Washington Nationals, for
minutes for Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona to example, counts understated heirlooms—like a
make history, but it was the watch’s unique history 1959 LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm and a 1960s
and association that made it worth millions. Breitling Superocean—as key elements of his
off-field uniform.”
Celebrity Collectors
The high-end watch market is a strong Clues to Determining Value
investment vehicle for wealthy people, according What you see may not always be what you
to the 2019 New York Times article “Watches Are have in the vintage watch market. Sometimes,
Yet Another Easy Way Rich People Make Their the value can be found beneath the surface – and
Money Into More Money,” which dished on some starts with the name of the watchmaker.
known celebrity vintage watch collectors: Most watches found in the vintage marketplace will
have a name on the dial identifying the maker; however,
“John Mayer’s watch collection is nearly as famous as that is not always the case. Here is where you have to
his guitar work. His bank vault contains a vast array of col- take a closer look and do some research.
lectibles, including sapphire-encrusted gold Rolexes and Some vintage watches might just say “Swiss” on the
Luftwaffe watches from World War II that he has said is This stainless steel ca. late face. In those cases, opening the back of the
1940s Jaeger LeCoultre
valued in the ‘tens of millions.’ watch may provide more clues to determine
Memovox is
“Silicon Valley heavyweights like Kevin Rose, the Digg selling online for who made the movement, although
$3,350 at
founder, and Matt Jacobson – Facebook’s employee No. 8, aaronfaber.com the maker of the movement doesn’t
have museum-worthy Rolexes and Patek Philippes, helping always indicate the brand of the
to establish a head-turning timepiece as a tech-world style timepiece. Another place to look
flourish to rival the hoodie. for the watch’s brand name is on
the inside of the case.
“Ellen DeGeneres wore a
holy-grail Paul Newman-model Ladies’ Vintage Gruen wristwatch
Rolex Daytona from the 1960s, sold at Ruby Lane. Gruen was one
now worth perhaps $250,000 of the first US watch companies to
while bantering with Jerry Seinfeld offer basic movements produced in
in an episode of Comedians in Cars Switzerland, in a wide variety
Getting Coffee last year. (Adam of cases and prices, but
Levine and Ed Sheeran have been adjusted, dialed, and cased
spotted wearing Paul Newmans as in the United States.
well. One also made a cameo on
the wrist of Pierre Png’s character
in Crazy Rich Asians.)
“In professional sports, high-
end timepieces have long seemed In some instances, the name on the face is that of a store or other
as indispensable as a shoe contract business entity. Tiffany & Co. is an example in this instance. Many
for stars with seven- and eight- companies commissioned branded timepieces from Tiffany’s to give as
figure incomes. Top athletes gifts. So, when you open the back, the movement will have a different
including Rafael Nadal, Dwyane name than that on the dial.
Ellen Degeneres wearing her vintage Wade, and LeBron James Some makers made lines under different brand names. Rolex is a
have
Rolex 1655 Explorer II served as celebrity ambassadors for well-known luxury watch brand. But did you know, they also marketed
photo: Fame Pictures
brands like Richard Mille, Hublot, lines of watches under other brand names like Tudor, Unicorn,
and Audemars Piguet. Marconi, Rolco, and Genex?
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
28
