Auction Alert Boule Auctions: My top vintage watches picks – Monte Carlo
Fine WatchesCollector's InsightFine WatchesEventsWhile Geneva, NY, Hong Kong might be taking a break from vintage watch auctions, one city is ON FIRE for vintage watches. Its Monte Carlo. Monaco.
We told you about Artcurial sale starting next Sunday, now lets show you what the auction house Boule has on offer. There is some pretty cool stuff if you’re a hard core vintage lover. While there are a ton of awesome vintage watches in the catalogue not all of them are worth highlighting no matter how cool or beautiful they are.
For example Lot 709: This dream GMT 1675 which has a superb bezel insert and great patina.
The lume color and dial is also attractive in terms of patina. The watch also has a correct pointed crown guard case. The problem however is that the watch is dated 1960 – with serial nr 624 xxx and carries a t>25 dial (which it should not, dial should be swiss only signed). These cases and serial numbers should have swiss only dials and therefore it is most likely a correct replacement dial. Maybe it is already reflected in the estimate of only €10-12’000.
While there are some very cool Rolex Daytona’s on offer – lets face it- you can buy a Daytona anytime. Rather I decided this time to focus on rare complications. More specifically two split second chronographs (inspired by the recent Hodinkee post perhaps).
You can download the entire watch catalogue of Boule Auction house here. (NB: All picture credits below –Boule Auctions).
Lot 780: Eberhard Split seconds, circa 1940
I have a weakness for the split seconds complication and also a weakness for pink gold. I also like the 1940s. Good enough reason to write about this pink gold split seconds Eberhard.
The main attraction of this watch has to be the striking contrast of the black gilt dial together with the pink gold case.
The dial of this watch is gilt, with black lacquer and is striking in appearance. Instead of the usual tachymeter scales found on chronographs, this dial has a telemeter scale which is used to measure the distance of an event*, like lightning, rather than measure distance of speed (tachymeter). Notice the telemeter scale below in km (the European metric system). Also the dial has a rare ‘snail’ central scale – this is often sought after by collectors.
The other great feature of this watch, besides the attractive dial, is the split seconds complication. Split seconds are often used to time two different events. The split seconds function is activated by pressing the little button mounted on the crown of the watch.
*The telemeter chronograph is a feature of a wristwatch, which allows the user to approximately measure the distance to an event that can be both seen and heard (e.g. a lightning bolt or a torpedo strike) using the speed of sound. The user starts the chronograph (stopwatch) at the instant the event is seen, and stops timing at the instant the event is heard. The seconds hand will point to the distance measured on a scale, usually around the edge of the face. The scale can be defined in any unit of distance, but miles or kilometers are most practical and commonplace.
Below the movement of the Eberhard split seconds cased in pink gold. I assume the movement is Valjoux (but I am not certain). In terms of condition Boule states: excellent overall condition, movement running, astonishing black lacquer dial, pink gold dial – top quality.
The watch carries an estimate of €12-16’ooo.
Lot 781: Breitling Ref 764 Premier Split seconds
The next lot is a cool split seconds Breitling Ref 764 (for more on split seconds in general and Breitling – see Hodinkee’s very comprehensive article here).
Although the Breitling split seconds is a rare watch (all vintage split seconds are relatively rare by definition) – the split seconds Breitling (this model and the duograph) come up for auction quite often. This watch is from around 1950 is cased in stainless steel. It houses the Venus 179 movement responsible for the split seconds movement.
The dial seems in good condition and the auction house Boule writes: excellent overall condition, some oxidation around outside caseback, nice original silver dial, matching patina. The scale here on dial is a tachymeter scale.
The case is a perfect not too large 38mm. As opposed to the Eberhard, which has a split seconds button mounted on the crown, the Breitling’s crown has two functions. One of course is setting the time and the other is activating the split seconds mechanism (by pushing the crown in-wards). This double function is patented as can been seen on the crown below.
The estimate of this split is €12-16’ooo. If it sells for this price – a collector gets a lot of complication for a very fair price. Of the two split seconds above I prefer the Breitling due to its more sporty look.
Below the movement of the Breitling – Venus 179 movement.
