Here Are the Watch Auctions to Pay Attention to This Week

Gerald Genta’s personal Royal Oak, for sale at Sotheby’s this May

For me, May means three things: tulips, NBA Playoffs, and watch auctions (in no particular order). While the watch auction season is centered on Geneva this coming week, there are a number of watch sales across the world over the next few weeks. Here’s is a look at some of the biggest.

I’ll try to update this page as more watch sales are announced or catalogs released, so feel free to bookmark this page as your one-stop shop for auctions this season.

2022 is the Royal Oak’s 50th Anniversary, so many of these catalogs are dripping with octagonal references, but there are all kinds of vintage, modern and independent gems to be found flipping through their pages.

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MAY

May 6: Phillips Royal Oak 50th

• Highlights: the second AP Royal Oak ever produced; Karl Lagerfeld’s blacked-out Royal Oak

May 7-8: Phillips Geneva Auction XV

• Highlights: Omega Speedmaster “Alaska Project”; Patek Philippe owned by Simon Wiesenthal

May 7-8: Antiquorum Geneva Auction

• Highlights: 534 (!) lots, including Gold Rolex GMT-Master 6542; Patek Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 3970 (original owner); Patek Philippe Coin Watch

May 9: Christie’s Geneva Watch Auction

• Highlights: Cartier London Crash; Patek 1526 Perpetual Calendar from Eric Clapton; Breguet Triple Calendar Chronograph

May 10: Sotheby’s Important Watches

• Highlights: Gerald Genta’s personal Royal Oak; Patek 5207 Grand Complication

May 11: Sotheby’s Important Watches Online

• Highlights: ‘Lemon’ Rolex Daytona

May 2-17: Christie’s Online: Geneva Edit

• Highlights: Tudor Black Bay for RAF; two-tone Vacheron 222

May 14: Watches of Knightsbridge Auction

• Highlights: Tudor Ranger (no-date); Cartier Lighter

May 17: Bonham’s Watches - London

• Highlights: Original Mido ‘Rainbow Diver’

May 24: Christie’s Hong Kong Watch Auction

• Highlights: TBD

May 27-28: Phillips Hong Kong Auction XIV

• Highlights: Patek 3974 Minute Repeater; Omega Speedmaster “Racing Dial” (see my article here)

May TBD: Dr. Crott Auctioneers

• Highlights TBD

JUNE

June 1: Heritage Auctions - Timepieces

• Highlights: Omega Speedmaster presented to Astronaut Michael Collins

June 11-12: Phillips New York Auction VI

• Highlights: TBD, but include George Daniels Anniversary No. 00.

June 15: Sotheby’s Important Watches New York

• Highlights: TBD