affordable at auction Archives

16Jan 2017 by Martin Green No Comments

Affordable at Auction: Longines La Grande Classique

La Grande Classique, has there every been a more promising name? The great thing is that this Longines even lives up to its name. Although the majority of them are round, the brand also made a charming tonneau version, and Fellows is auctioning one off that comes complete with the original bracelet which features very fine links. According to the description, the watch is just over nine years old yet still good looking. This might be because it wasn't worn so often, but also remember that these watches were made very well, because Longines still is an insider secret for people who want a very well made watch, for a fair price. The La Grande Classique has a unique lug construction, in which they come from underneath the case and…

04Jan 2017 by Martin Green No Comments

100 Year Old Wrist Watch, Do You Dare?

Affordable at Auction

Some watches are just cool because they look cool. They are tarnished, battered, and in this case even brandless, yet despite all of this (or perhaps because) so utterly cool! Fellows in the United Kingdom is auctioning such a watch as lot 345. A silver wrist watch from 1917, with no indication of the brand. In fact, the only thing that Fellows can tell us regarding the make of this watch is that it is stamped with silver case import hallmark of London 1917. The only thing that this tells us is that the case of the watch is not of British origin. This watch is a bit of a mystery, and it will probably always stay that way. It does give the future owner something to look into and…

13Déc 2016 by Jonathan Kopp 1 Comment

Affordable at Auction: Rarities from Swatch

News

Something special for Swatch collectors just before the holidays. Squiggly.com auctions 190 Swatch limited edition and early prototype in an online auction. The lots contain some very rare items. Based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Squiggly is a specialist dealer of vintage Swatch watches. They sell watches with official warranty, instructions, and original packaging. Although Swatch is in general quite an affordable watch, you can find at this auction some pieces going for more than what you are probably used to, which is the proof that a Swatch is a collectible item. At this auction, you can also buy some rare posters. In the 80’s Swatch was extremely active to get the name of the brand known everywhere. The marketing strategies were different on every continent. Something that was completely abandoned…

15Nov 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

Affordable at Auction: Sinn U1000 S

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Sinn has a long reputation of making very technical watches. For many people their specifications are much more then they would ever need in their daily life, but that only adds to the appeal. A great example of such a Sinn is the U1000 S, that Sotheby's is auctioning on November 28th. It starts with the case which is crafted from the same steel as Germany makes its submarines. This material not only ensures that the watch can handle high pressure, but also that it is seawater resistant. For this particular model, Sinn coated the 44mm case black through a PVD-process. The result is a thin layer of titanium-aluminium-carbonitrite with a hardness of 2000 Vickers. That is strong enough not to wear off anytime soon and can take quite a…

08Nov 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

Affordable at Auction: Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle

Affordable at Auction

One of the most exciting aviation watches in history is still the Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle. Made in 1931 by Longines, based on sketches by Charles Lindbergh himself. The watch made quite a name for itself, and over the years Longines issued several re-editions of this watch. This is one of them, and perhaps one of the most interesting. [caption id="attachment_2119" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Original 1932 Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle[/caption] Many of the re-editions featured much smaller cases than the original watch. This made them much more wearable as a wristwatch because the original was first and foremost a navigational instrument. For that reason legibility was essential, and the diameter of 47.5 mm ensured that this could be done with ease. Of course, the pilot would not wear a watch like…

03Nov 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

Affordable at Auction: IWC Portofino Chronograph

Affordable at Auction

The IWC Portofino Chronograph has always been a charming chronograph. For their upcoming auction on November 18th, Auctionata offers one in a very desirable steel case with black dial and silver subdials. It gives the watch a very cool look, and surprisingly modern since the watch is from 1990 and long discontinued. It comes from a time when IWC had a portion of its collection powered by very high-end quartz movements, the so called meca-quartz. This Portofino is also fitted with such a movement. This caliber 630 actually features some Cotes Geneve decoration and is based on a movement made by Jaeger-LeCoultre. It has two quartz controlled stepper motors, of which the one that powers the movement runs at 1Hz, but the one for the chronograph runs at 4Hz making…

24Oct 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment

Affordable at Auction: Jaeger-LeCoultre ref. E109

Affordable at Auction

Now, this doesn't sound promising, but even at an auction titled: Rare Watches including Nautilus 40 Part II, and held by Christie's in Geneva, you can find an affordable watch. Between many rare Rolex, Speedmaster's and even a Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon, there was one watch that stood out by its looks and estimate. It was a Jaeger-LeCoultre reference E109. This particular E109 was made in 1947, so relatively quick after WWII. With its military-styled dial featuring luminous Arabic numerals, railroad track, and large six-eater, topped off with sword hands, it is not that difficult to imagine this watch on the wrist of an officer during WWII. In fact, there is even a direct military reference to this watch, since the back of the case is engraved with "II…

29Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

Affordable At Auction: Cartier Pasha C GMT

Affordable at Auction

Cartier is not really a brand many people think of when they hear the word "affordable". However, older models can sometimes be found for surprisingly low prices. A good example of this is the Pasha C GMT that Antiquorum is offering as lot 301 for their October 8th auction in New York City. They have set the estimate at US$ 1.000,-/ US$ 2.000,-. When introduced the Pasha C was the entry-level for the Pasha-collection. Don't take that "entry-level" too literally because Cartier didn't cut many corners when making it. The corner that they did cut is one you might actually be happy about. Instead of using Girard-Perregaux or Frederic Piguet movements, the Pasha C collection is powered by ETA-movements. Although this might disappoint hard-core Haute Horlogerie connoisseurs, it does provide…

20Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

New Series: Affordable At Auction

Affordable at Auction, News

When most people think about affordable watches, they think of new watches with an affordable price tag. But ever since we started Watchisthis?! Magazine, we have also focused on watches that where initially out of the price range of the magazine when new, but used it is a whole different story and a good way to find them is at an auction. In the latest issue of Watchisthis?! Magazine you could read for example about two prime examples. First Hublot, a brand that does not come cheap. But when you go for a used model, from when Hublot just started, you can get the famed look for pennies on the dollar. The same can be said of vintage watches. In the last issue of Watchisthis?! Magazine, we highlighted Gerald Genta's…

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