LouS
· ·Mrs Nataf's Other SonWe're about to head into preview weekend for four watch auctions in New York - time to scope out the Zeniths. They are pretty sparse this year, but interesting.
Bonhams saved all of its Zeniths for their London sale, so I won't be stopping in there. Sothebys is similarly clean.
Antiquorum has another Luna Luxe. They first auctioned this reference in yellow gold in Nov 2011, when it made nearly 27000 swiss francs, a price that struck me as really over the top.
After all, Caso watches in Naples, not known for modest pricing, did not ask more than 15000Euros for one.
According to Roessler, there are 61 of these kicking around. Not one of my favorite designs, not least because that bracelet made of plates of battleship armor is none too comfortable on my wrist, it is impressive for sheer weight of gold. Impressive and desirable are two different things however. I will stop in at Antiquorum and fondle it. I doubt I'll bid. MMMD called it a "safe queen" which is exactly right IMO. It is estimated at $12-18K. With a caseback inscription and worn pushers, I think that's about right.
Christies has an A 386 which looks proper to my eye. The second hand is a correct replacement, and the case seems to retain its sharp bevels, so it may well be unpolished. This is a good, correct example. A 386s on Ebay can do better than the estimate ($3-5K), and that combined with the fact that Aurel Bacs knows how run an auction makes me think it'll exceed the upper limit. It would be a personal satisfaction to me if it would take the record for this reference ($7000) from that abomination/forgery that currently holds it thanks to some clueless deep-pocket buyer and not terribly well-informed seller (Antiquorum)
Anyone coming for the previews?
Bonhams saved all of its Zeniths for their London sale, so I won't be stopping in there. Sothebys is similarly clean.
Antiquorum has another Luna Luxe. They first auctioned this reference in yellow gold in Nov 2011, when it made nearly 27000 swiss francs, a price that struck me as really over the top.
After all, Caso watches in Naples, not known for modest pricing, did not ask more than 15000Euros for one.
According to Roessler, there are 61 of these kicking around. Not one of my favorite designs, not least because that bracelet made of plates of battleship armor is none too comfortable on my wrist, it is impressive for sheer weight of gold. Impressive and desirable are two different things however. I will stop in at Antiquorum and fondle it. I doubt I'll bid. MMMD called it a "safe queen" which is exactly right IMO. It is estimated at $12-18K. With a caseback inscription and worn pushers, I think that's about right.
Christies has an A 386 which looks proper to my eye. The second hand is a correct replacement, and the case seems to retain its sharp bevels, so it may well be unpolished. This is a good, correct example. A 386s on Ebay can do better than the estimate ($3-5K), and that combined with the fact that Aurel Bacs knows how run an auction makes me think it'll exceed the upper limit. It would be a personal satisfaction to me if it would take the record for this reference ($7000) from that abomination/forgery that currently holds it thanks to some clueless deep-pocket buyer and not terribly well-informed seller (Antiquorum)
Anyone coming for the previews?