We are coming up on one of the two main periods in the fake watch auction business: the November Geneva and December New York sales (the other main period are the May Geneva and June New York sales). Antiquorum has recently launched a mega-catalog of 600 lots and we have selected some of our favorites. As always, potential buyers should "bring a loupe" and make sure to request additional photos and information should they be interested in bidding.
Importantly, you should fake watch out as I (and others) noticed a few redialed replica watches in the catalog that were described as having original dials in the Grading System. Also, I saw some years dates listed for replica watches were off by quite a few years and I wanted to flag that for you, as well.
For those that have complained HODINKEE focuses too much on Pateks and Rollies, you will be happy to know that the 10 replica watches featured below do not include either. So, let's get down to watches.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic reference E 168Geophysics are definitely among the most desired vintage Jaeger-LeCoultres. Most were made in steel with the familiar clean white dial. Getting one in steel in excellent condition has long been on my vintage "want?list. It has a great clean look, important history, and is a great representation of Jaeger-LeCoultre's historic focus on chronometry.
But this one with the crosshair dial is truly taking it to the next level. Only a very few of the steel Geophysics are known with the crosshairs dial. Interestingly, as you may know, the re-edition steel and gold Geophysics now hitting retailers have the crosshairs dials while the platinum version has the more common vintage style dial. (HODINKEE article here.)
To add to the grail nature of this dial, the case looks pristine and unpolished, the radium lume has aged perfectly, and it looks to have the famed original crystal in fantastic condition with the lume dots clearly evident on the underside. Very few Geophysics have the original crystal and lume on the underside. This may just be the finest vintage steel Geophysic on the face of the earth.
Lot 405 has an estimate of $6,400 to $8,500.
LeCoultre Reverso retailed by Türler of ZurichI am a big fan of the black dial early Reversos and this particular one branded LeCoultre and signed by Türler of Zurich is excellent. Just a great dial and case, what more is there to say? As a plus, It also comes with an Extract of the Archives from JLC.
Lot 401 has an estimate of $3,700 to $5,800.
If you don't win this one, there is a great and similar Gübelin-branded Reverso (Lot 400) with an estimate of $4,300 to $6,400. Like the previous Reverso, this one also comes with an Extract of the Archives from JLC.
Audemars Piguet Tank-Style WatchI continue to believe that vintage non-chronograph Audemars Piguet replica watches remain highly underappreciated and undervalued. This white gold Tank-style fake watch thought to be from circa 1926 caught my eye for its clean lines, nice dial, and the very uncommon accompanying beautiful white gold AP checkerboard bracelet. I would love to try this fake watch on, and have a strong feeling I would really like it. Currently in a left-hand configuration, it is possible that the dial was simply rotated at some point. Can't you imagine Jay Gatsby wearing a fake watch like this?
Lot 501 has an estimate of $5,400 to $7,500.
Hamilton Chronograph Made by Heuer Reference 2447SNSo-called Poor Man's Heuers have steadily been gaining interest as great entry-level vintage chronographs. They typically had cases with a little straighter lines. But what is interesting is that Heuer made some Carreras for other manufacturers before they expanded production of the "poor man's Heuers?for other brands with Valjoux 773X movements. The Carreras manufactured for other fake watch companies are not common.
Antiquorum is selling the first Hamilton-branded Carrera that I have seen. And it isn't just your run-of-the-mill reference 2447, but it happens to be in the most desirable "panda" configuration of a silver dial with three black registers. Inside is a Valjoux 72 movement. It looks to be in just pristine original shape and I think it is off-the-charts cool. It just may be my favorite Hamilton chronograph of all time. The lume, dial, and case on this timepiece look to be pristine.
Lot 412 has an estimate of $1,100 to $2,100.
Longines 43.5 mm fake watch for PolandThis large black Longines fake watch immediately reminded me of a similar fake watch sold by Christie's in Geneva last November for $43,537 (after an approximately $3,300 to $5,500 estimate). This one at Antiquorum was delivered to the Longines agent in Warsaw on December 24, 1938, just five days after the Christie's one was delivered to the same agent. The replica watches differ by only 28 movement serial numbers.
This one at Antiquorum is not in as nice of condition as the Christie's one as the lume has fallen out or been removed from the hands and someone put an AK on the dial, presumably for personalization reasons. Still, I absolutely love it and think it is a killer timepiece. I wouldn't be surprised if these replica watches were a small special order run for the Polish military.
Lot 510 has an estimate of $8,500 to $13,000.
Vulcain Cricket Nautical from the 1970sWhile I have a strong fondness for the original early 1960s Vulcain Cricket Nauticals (just see the "watch I wore most?last year), the early 1970s ones are pretty darn cool, too, and more accessible and slightly easier to find than the early 1960s ones. The 1970s style is clearly evident from the cushion shape, reminiscent of the automatic Autavia cases, and the colorful dive table (both shared by the Fortis Marinemaster from that time). Vulcain even made a tribute to this fake watch and introduced it last year.
Lot 397 has an estimate of $1,600 to $2,700.
Lange 1 Rose Gold TourbillonGiven the Lange anniversary, I thought I would include an uncommon Lange from the catalog: this rose gold Lange 1 Tourbillon. This was part of a limited edition of 250 rose-gold pieces (and 150 platinum pieces) made in 2000. This particular one is number 61. This is just a very pretty and uncommon Lange.
Lot 353 has an estimate of $63,000 to $94,000.
IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph reference 3750While the first company that may come into mind when someone says "perpetual calendar chronograph" is probably Patek Philippe, there certainly are less expensive pre-owned options. This IWC Da Vinci isn't my favorite piece aesthetically, but given Jason's interview with Georges Kern yesterday and the brief discussion of Da Vinci, I thought it was definitely worth including.
Lot 271 has an estimate of $8,000 to $10,000.
If you are looking for a Patek perpetual calendar chronograph check out Lot 558: a reference 5020R and if you want that plus split-seconds check out Lot 393: a reference 5004R. Also, don't forget about Vacheron's automatic perpetual calendar chronograph, Lot 373: the reference 49005 in rose gold.
Zenith Display Chronometre for Finnish MarketThis Zenith display chronometer was presumably for a jeweler in Finland given the "oikea aika" (Finnish for "exact time") and is circa 1935. I have seen a few of these with "exact time" in different languages and think they would make a great desk clock.
Lot 194 has an estimate of $2,600 to $4,800.
Singing Bird Cage Clock with Automaton Jumping Bird and Automaton Waterfall Attributed to Jaquet-Droz and LeschotUnusually, Antiquorum's cover lot is not a wristwatch, but is this circa 1785 clock.It is not just any old clock, it happens to be a singing bird cage clock attributed to the great firm Jaquet-Droz and Leschot. While these sorts of singing automaton bird clocks are always treasured, what makes this piece even more important is that the small bird not only opens its beak, flaps its wings, and moves its tail, but it jumps from perch to perch. Interestingly, the Jaquet-Droz and Leschot general inventory of 1791 mentions "two cages with hopping bird...song "courbes unfinished", perhaps referring to this exact piece.
Lot 578 has an estimate of $209,000 to $420,000.
One of the other automaton highlights is Lot 579: a "heart?musical automaton fake watch from Isaac Daniel Piguet with an estimate of $105,000 to $209,000.
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