Look back at the horological auction catalogues of a decade ago and you will find most of the lots were either pre-1920s pocket watches or pre-1970s wristwatches, generally known as “vintage” pieces.
Vintage wristwatches still reign supreme in terms of value, with the best products of companies such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin, made between the early 1930s and the mid-1960s, continuing to fetch impressive sums. Earlier this year, Christie’s hammered-down a 1960 Patek for SFr1.9m ($1.8m), a 1948 Rolex triple calendar chronograph for SFr387,000 and a 1940s Audemars Piguet for SFr 207,000.
