How do Bulgari watches do at auction?

Dec 31, 2011,21:39 PM
 

How do Bulgari Watches do at auction?

 

A telltale indication of a brand's public demand and popularity is how its items perform on the auction front.  Auctions can be especially telling for vintage pieces from names with a long standing history such as Bulgari.  Vintage jewelry and watches can be highly coveted amongst collectors.  Often the preferred way to obtain the best pieces is by auction.  Value of the items can vary greatly depending on circa year, public demand, condition and even previous owner - as in the case of one of Christie's recent auctions.  Earlier this month, Christie's held a 4 day auction of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor.  The event contained some of the legendary pieces given to Taylor by Richard Burton during their torrid love affair.

 

I still remember my first "auction" experience.  Well, it wasn't quite MY auction experience as it was AT's.  As many of you may already know the story, AT purchased his PAM 21 through an Antiquorum auction in New York about 8 years ago.  I recall following the bids online with excitement and anticipation.  I had known what his last bid was and when the final hammer price was the same amount, I knew that he had won the auction and the now, highly sought after watch, was his.  It was an exciting moment to say the least.  I can only imagine what it was like in the room during the auction.  I understood from then on the appeal of buying things at auction.  The deeply satisfying pleasure of shopping is accompanied by the ecstatic euphoria of winning a race.  Of course just like any other self indulgent activity, some inner self control needs to be employed.  With that said, some real treasures can be scored at the pound of the hammer.

 

Recently I perused the Christie's website to get an idea of which Bulgari watches were being sold at auction and what they were going for.  I was also curious to see how Elizabeth Taylor's famous jewels fared on the market.  The results of Taylor's collection left me wide mouthed and speechless – impressive enough that I think I will leave the topic for a later post.  As for now, I will share some of my findings, solely related to watches, that I found particularly interesting.  There were a lot of Bulgari Bulgari watches and vintage Serpentis.  The Bulgari Daniel Roth Endurer seemed like a steal.  I'm not sure of the condition of the piece.  Also, the white gold Serpenti is the first one I've seen with a square face and the Serpenti from Elizabeth Taylor's Collection is exquisite, not to mention the outrageous price tag.  I invite anyone to share his or her auction experiences as well.

 

 

BULGARI, TIFFANY & CO AND GERALD GENTA SET OF THREE STAINLESS STEEL/ALUMINIUM/RUBBER AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCHES

CIRCA 2005



 

Price Realized:  HK$43,750 ($5,641)

Estimate:  HK$28,000 - HK$35,000 ($3,609 - $4,512)

Important Watches Including the Millenium Collection

June 2, 2010 - Hong Kong

 

Mechanical movement, first, grey engine-turned dial, subdials for small seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, date display, three-part case in rubber and stainless steel, revolving calibrated bezel, screw down transparent case back, rubber and stainless steel Tiffany & Co. bracelet; second, black engine-turned dial, jumping hour, retrograde minute sector, three-part case in rubber and stainless steel, screwed case back, stainless steel GG buckle, third matte white dial, subdials for small seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, date display, three-part case in rubber and alumnium, snap on case back, stainless steel Bulgari buckle back, case and dial signed
Diameter: 42 mm.; 42 mm.; 38 mm.

 

AN ENAMEL AND RUBY SNAKE LADY'S BRACELET WATCH, SIGNED BULGARI

Price Realized:  €70,100 ($93,366)

Estimate:  €17,000 - €22,000 ($22,774 - $29,472)

1965 circa

Important Watches - December 16, 2011, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

 

BULGARI, "BULGARI BULGARI AUTOMATIC" A LIMITED EDITION SET OF 32 BLACK PLASTIC SELF-WINDING WRISTWATCHES WITH SWEEP SECONDS AND DATE DISPLAY, ALL IN FACTORY SEALED BAGS

NO. 200, CIRCA 1993

Price Realized:  HK$211,500 ($27,230)

Estimate:  HK$175,000 - HK$260,000 ($22,526 - $33,467)

Lot Description

BULGARI, "BULGARI BULGARI AUTOMATIC"

A LIMITED EDITION SET OF 32 BLACK PLASTIC SELF-WINDING WRISTWATCHES WITH SWEEP SECONDS AND DATE DISPLAY, ALL IN FACTORY SEALED BAGS
NO. 200, CIRCA 1993

Calibre 2824-2, gilt brass, 25 jewels, the black dial with gold applied Arabic numerals and baton hour markers, city name and production number at 6 o'clock, sweep seconds, aperture for the date, in two-part case with engraved bezel, transparent back fastened by six screws, black plastic Bulgari buckle, case, dial and movement signed
Diameter: 34 mm.

 

A GOLD SNAKE LADY'S BRACELET WATCH, SIGNED BULGARI



Price Realized:  €13,000  ($18,431)

Estimate:  €4,000 - €6,000   ($5,624 - $8,436)

 

DANIEL ROTH. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC DUAL TIME WRISTWATCH WITH DATE

SIGNED DANIEL ROTH, RETAILED BY BULGARI, REF. 210.Y, CASE NO. 21'394, CIRCA 2009



Price Realized:  $5,000

Estimate:  $3,000 - $5,000

16 December 2011
New York, Rockefeller Plaza

Lot Description

Daniel Roth. A Stainless Steel Automatic Dual Time Wristwatch With Date
Signed Daniel Roth, Retailed By Bulgari, Ref. 210.Y, Case No. 21'394, Circa 2009
Cal. DR1306 nickel-finished lever movement, 33 jewels, black textured ribbed dial, applied luminescent baton numerals, subsidiary second time zone dial, double date aperture at the 12 o'clock, oversized rectangular-shaped case, scalloped sides and lugs, bezel secured by six screws, sapphire crystal display back secured by six screws, stainless steel Bulgari buckle, case, dial and movement signed by maker, dial signed by retailer
56mm length

 

A DIAMOND, EMERALD AND GOLD "SNAKE" BRACELET WATCH, BY BVLGARI

From The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor

 

Price Realized:  $974,500

Estimate:  $12,000 - $15,000

Sale Information

Sale 2623
The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: The Legendary Jewels, Evening Sale (I)
13 December 2011
New York, Rockefeller Plaza

Lot Description

A DIAMOND, EMERALD AND GOLD "SNAKE" BRACELET WATCH, BY BVLGARI
The gold springband designed as a coiled serpent, with a variously-cut diamond head and tail, enhanced by circular-cut emerald eyes, opening to reveal a watch with back wound nickel-finished lever movement, mounted in gold and platinum, circa 1961, diameter adjustable
Signed BVLGARI, dial and movement supplied by Jaeger-LeCoultre, back-case no. 706666 A

 

All auctions and photos from Christies.com

This message has been edited by pingtsai on 2012-01-01 00:27:23


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DR & GG pieces were sold at a steal

 
 By: mell0822 : January 1st, 2012-17:51
at auctions, particularly DR (base on Prices Realized at past several Christie's auctions). The Prices Realized were inclusive of 25% buyer's premium. Thus, the DR in your post went for $4,000, despite its very good condition (according to its Condition R... 

You need to look at the price + buyer's premium

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : January 4th, 2012-12:03
because that is the final price the buyer has to pay. And when you bid on things on auction, you calculate your bids based on how much you have to pay including the buyer's premium. So I wouldn't look at the Endurer final price as $4k but rather $5k. If I... 

Bulgari at Auction

 
 By: Meehna : January 4th, 2012-12:51
Hi Ping, I mean no disrespect when I say that the Bulgari's in Elizabeth Taylor's collection are not representative of what the watches will do at auction under less fevered circumstances. More than just buying a watch, people were buying a legend, a piec... 

Absolutely, I agree with you.

 
 By: pingtsai : January 7th, 2012-11:37
I guess I wasn't trying to say that all Bulgari watches sell the same way. I was just pointing out some examples that were interesting and noteworthy. Thank you though for pointing this out.