The Auction Hammer – rare Rolex pre-Daytona 6238 and more is a post from: Monochrome.nl

While most watch auctions are held in New York, Hong Kong or Singapore and some are in Geneva, on Wednesday 14th of December an auction with many very interesting pieces is held in Paris. Among those pieces a Rolex pre-Daytona ref. 6238, a Franck Muller Tourbillon Imperial and a Richard Mille RM003 Tourbillon. 

While vintage Daytona’s are already rare, the pre-Daytona reference 6238 is even more rare. It’s also beautiful and one of the chronographs that has become design classic and has inspired many chronographs that have been made afterwards. This example is from 1963 and on the dial we only see Rolex chronograph.

Although the plexi crystal shows enough markings from a long live, the watch is actually in very nice condition considering its age. An old watch should show a bit of its live and mostly it’s a shame if old parts have been replaced with newer parts during a service. This one is LOT 50 and is estimated between € 15,000 and € 25,000 Euro.

This pre-Daytona has is 37 mm in diameter and 12.5 mm thick. The movement is a manual wound caliber 72B with 17 jewels. The silver dial still looks very good, no ‘age-spots’ and has very elegantly turned from silver to a champagne color. It looks like the hour stick markers and tritium dots are all in place and the print of the tachymeter index around the dial is still crisp.

Another remarkable piece is a Franck Muller Imperial Tourbillon and this is number 10, made in the year 2000. The typical for Franck Muller tonneau shaped case (made of platinum) shows serious signs of a tough live. Although we think the pre-Datona looks fine as it is (and its condition is better than this FM) we think in this case a service would do this timepiece justice. Even the sapphire crystal has some scratches. Not sure what the previous owner did to this watch, but let’s just say it’s been worn intensively.

Although ‘worn’ it is a great example of the work of the Master of Complications, Franck Muller. A beautiful tourbillon can be admired through an aperture in the dial.

This is LOT 226 of the Artcurial wristwatch auction and it is estimated between € 20,000 and € 30,000 Euro. We think this is a very reasonable price, even considering it has to be sent for service. The person who picks this up at the estimate, sends it for service, will still have a magnificent watch for a good price. One more photo of that tourby…

Probably the ‘piece de resistance’ of the upcoming Artcurial wristwatch auction, is this Richard Mille RM003 Tourbillon. This timepiece is in excellent condition and is number 106, manufactured in 2006. It’s LOT 202 and the value is estimated between € 160,000 and € 180,000 Euro. The RM003 has the typical Richard Mille case that was used for more RM timepieces like the RM010.

The RM003 features a one-minute tourbillon, a torque indicator, a power reserve indicator, date and a second time zone. The dial is printed on the sapphire crystal, so the entire movement can be admired. It also has the typical Richard Mille function selector in the crown, which enables you to select between setting and winding.

The auction is held on Wednesday 14th of December in Paris. For more information and all watches listed you can look at the Artcurial website.

Related posts:

1. The Auction Hammer – Rolex Day-Date II Platinum
2. Rolex Daytona 16520 reaches collectible status
3. The Auction Hammer – Panerai Mare Nostrum

Vacheron Constantin for Only Watch 2009 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

On September 24^th the charity auction Only Watch will be held in Monaco. Many of the most prestigious Swiss watch brands created a unique watch for this charity event that is held during the Monaco Yacht Show.

All the proceeds of the Only Watch charity auction will be donated to the research of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The next Only Watch auction is organized in close collaboration with Patrizzi & Co and the Monaco Yacht Show, and is under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Only Watch 2009 Quai de i'Ile dial close-up

Especially for Only Watch 2009 Vacheron Constantin created it’s first tantalum watch. Vacheron Constantin decided to create a tantalum Quai de l’Ile.  Christian Selmoni, head of Product Marketing, says this choice was made because it fits into the research spirit needed when fighting against a disease as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The case exists of 10 parts which are fixed to a titanium inner case. The function of this titanium inner case is to hold the movement in place. This inner case itself consists of 7 pieces. The case of the Quai de l’Ile is far more sophisticated than that of a normal case.

Vacheron Constantin Quai de i'lle for Only Watch 2009

The heart of the case, flanks and bezel sections are considered as three “interchangeable” components. On ‘normal’ Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile models this allows personal customisation with three different metals – Palladium, Titanium and Pink Gold. This unique piece for Only Watch 2009 is entirely made of tantalum, except the flanks. The flanks of the watch are made of palladium.

Tantalum is a very rare and noble metal, not only because of the qualities of the metal but also because it’s unique, very dark, look. Unlike other metals used on watches, the dark color is not achieved by adding coatings or other treatments, but it is the metal’s natural color.

Only Watch 2009 Quai de i'Ile dial close-up

The dial and crystal are also far from usual. The Maltese cross symbol and the numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 are linked into the sapphire by using multiple layers technology, called galvanic growth. The other numerals are laser engraved then inked in white ink.

Furthermore, the Only Watch Quai de l’Ile features a dark red minute track engraved and painted on a lower part of the whole dial. Finally, on the inside ring of the dial, there is an outer subdial which has a decorative 3D engraving representing the logo “Only Watch”. “Only” is engraved and “Watch” is in relief, so that when the light hits the sapphire crystal the name “Only Watch” appears in three dimensions.

At the Only Watch 2009 website all the 34 unique pieces and their specifications can be found.

Related posts:

1. Vacheron Constantin Historique American 1921 – driver’s watch
2. Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
3. Vacheron Constantin Overseas Steel and Titanium