Nobody Puts Antiquorum in the Corner
But I did...Until Instagram Reminded Me They Had a Hong Kong Auction
We’re all human, right? In my breakdown of the Hong Kong spring auctions I failed to include Antiquorum. I genuinely didn’t realize that Antiquorum had a Hong Kong Auction until Instagram informed me about it.
Here’s a quick summary of what’s happening tomorrow at Antiquorum Hong Kong.
Antiquorum is back in Hong Kong with a 364-lot auction, about half the size of their Geneva auction, thankfully. It’s set for May 31st at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, and while it leans heavily on vintage and Neo-vintage watches, there are a few Indies and collector highlights worth watching.
The Lot to Watch: The Pièce d’École Prototype
In my estimation, the lot to watch is Lot 349 - a collaboration School Watch, Piece d’Ecole, prototype made by the team at Greaubel Forsey in collaboration with Philippe Dufour, and Michel Boulanger. All of the metal components, save the case, were manufactured and finished by hand.
This watch is more than just a prototype - it’s a proof of concept. Proof that watches can still be made by hand in this digital and AI revolution age. This watch laid the foundation for the Greubel Forsey Handmade series of watches, and is the first watch in the Naissance dune Montre project. Honestly, it’s just cool as hell. The sale estimate is somewhere between $1M USD and $2.3M USD, and I have to imagine it sells at the higher end, given the importance of the project and the watchmaker involved.
Other Lots to Watch
Lot 18 - Gerald Genta Retro Solo
Lot 47 - H. Moser Pioneer Green Fumé dial
Lot 62 - A Benzinger Subskription IV
Lot 65 - RGM Hamilton Skeleton
Lot 120 - Daniel Roth Master Chronograph
Lot 121 - BVLGARI Octo Finnissimo Sejima Limited Edition
Lot 151- F.P. Journe Chronometre Souverain Nacre
Lot 152 - F.P. Journe Octa Calendrier, Brass movement
Lot 169 - Gerald Genta Night and Day
Lot 171 - M.A.D. 1S Ice Blue
Lot 172 - BAMFORD Rolex Modified MilSub
Lot 204 - Alain Silberstein Krono
Lot 217 - Roger Dubuis Homage H40 Rose Gold
Lot 250 - Daniel Roth Master Chronograph Stainless Steel
Lot 307 - Daniel Roth Academic Ellipsocurvex Chronomax Yellow Gold
Lot 349 - Piece d’Ecole, prototype made by the team at Greaubel Forsey in collaboration with Philippe Dufour, and Michel Boulanger
A Few Thoughts
Lot 18 and Lot 169 - With the rise of the Gerald Genta reboots these days with Gerald Charles and the LVMH La Fabrique du Temps reboot of Gérald Genta, this is an opportunity to own one of the originals - not a reboot, not a recreation, but a genuine Gérald Genta watch. While not the Grand Sonnerie, I think these will draw collector interest just to own something from Genta.
Lot 47 - H. Moser seems to be having a rough ride in the secondary market, and I am curious to see if this Pioneer bucks the trend or confirms it.
Lot 62 - Not my personal taste, but it’s cool to see a Benzinger at auction. The aesthetic is a specific one for a specific client, but the watchmaking is great and I think this is a gem for the right collector.
Lot 65 - Not a lot is made of American watchmaking, and RGM certainly doesn’t get a ton of visibility, but it is cool to see this watch at auction. I look forward to seeing how it performs. Do I think an American takeover of Swiss watchmaking is imminent? Not likely. But fun to see RGM in the mix nonetheless.
Lot 120, 250, and 307 - Daniel Roth has been on fire lately. It seems since the reboot collectors want to get their hands on the real McCoy. These three lots will be interesting signals as to where that trend goes.
Lot 151 and 152 - Journe is still incredibly sought after, and it is notable that these watches are at Antiquorum. I suppose these will sell well at auction, but I think it remains to be seen what Antiquorum can do with them when compared to a Christie’s or Phillips.
Lot 172 - The BAMFORD modified Rolex Mil Sub is a cool homage to the vintage Mil Subs that we have spoken about and seen at auction. If you’ve ever wanted a Mil Sub but the provenance and pricing have left you feeling uneasy, then this is the way to go. You get modern Rolex durability, serviceability, and wearability with a nod to one of the greatest Rolex’s out there. It’s not for the purist, but for the pragmatist this is the perfect watch.
Lot 217- I love the Roger Dubuis Homage series. I was recently speaking with a collector about how the H40s used to fly under the radar - they could be found for pennies on the dollar in the not too distant past. That’s changed. While the H40 three hander isn’t my choice, it is beautifully executed. That said, I don’t think the pink gold edition will draw the same attention as the same watch in white gold.
Final Thoughts
The Antiquorum Hong Kong Auction is coming up fast, so if you are planning to bid make sure to register and place those advance bids. This auction has honestly made me rethink Antiquorum’s position in the auction landscape. It’s easy to get caught up in Phillips and Christie’s, but with a lot like the Pièce d’École prototype, I think Antiquorum is stepping up. Whether they can handle a lot of this importance remains to be seen, but we will know very soon.
Thanks to Instagram for the reminder, and to Antiquorum for giving us an auction worth watching.
Want more?
While the lineup at Antiquorum may not be as deep as other houses, there are still lots worth watching - and I will be tacking all of them. If you want the inside line on auctions, market shifts, and what collectors are really paying attention to, subscribe to stay in the loop.
If you found this breakdown useful, share it with a fellow collector, a friend who missed out earlier in the week in Hong Kong, or anyone who’s curious about the independent scene. It helps more than you know.
Thanks as always for reading and for being part of a community that knows that there are still great stories in watchmaking beyond the hype.