Cartier wristwatch that belonged to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis broke a new world record for a Cartier Tank when it sold for $379,500 (£300,00 approx) at the Christie’s Rare Watches and American Icons auction in New York. The 18-caratgold Cartier Tank replica watch was made in 1962, a year after Kennedy became First Lady of the United States, and a year before the assassination of her husband JFK.
It was estimated to sell for between $60,000 and $120,000 (£47,000 – £95,000), the fact that tripled the higher prediction reflects its illustrious provenance. It would have originally cost a few hundred dollars and similar examples in the vintage market sell for around $3,000, according to John Reardon, Christie’s international head of watches.
The luxury Tank fake watch was a gift from Kennedy’s brother-in-law Prince Stanislaw “Stas” Radziwill in 1963. Its caseback is engraved with: “Stas to Jackie 23 Feb. 63 2:05 AM to 9:35 PM,” a reference to the start and stop times of the 50-Mile Hike in Palm Beach in 1963, which Radziwill completed alongside his friend Chuck Spalding and secret service agent Clint Hill.
The hike was part of a nationwide public health initiative spearheaded by President Kennedy, who was concerned that Americans were becoming “soft”. The First Lady had challenged Radziwill – who was married to her sister at the time – to complete it, which he did in under 20 hours.
The watch is accompanied by an original painting of Radziwill and Spalding walking, created by Kennedy to celebrate their successful hike and as a thank you for the gift. The painting bears the matching dedication “February 23, 1963 2:05 am to 9:35 pm / Jackie to Stas with love and admiration”. The painting has never before been seen in public.
The watches are square-shaped exquisite Cartier Tank Ordinaire fake watches, one of only three of its kind produced in 1963. It was a favourite of the First Lady; she can be seen wearing it in several photographs.
According to Christie’s, the watch and painting are two of the most important personal artifacts from the Kennedy presidential era.
“The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank series are copy watches with white dials full of emotion, love and history,” said Reardon. “Together with Jackie’s painting, these two objects capture the spirit of another era, a time where friendship and the ‘can-do’ optimism of the generation seemed to make anything possible.”
The private seller will donate a portion of the proceeds to the US National Endowment for the Arts.
The Christie’s sale also included a 1946 Jaeger Le-Coultre that belonged to Bob Hope which sold for $32,500; gold black crocodile straps Cartier fake watches engraved with “To Bumpy from Babe, Dec 25th, 1937”, a gift from baseball star Babe Ruth to New York gangster Bumpy Johnson which sold for $18,750; an asymmetrical Hamilton watch owned by President Lyndon B Johnson which realised $18,750; and three watches that were in the collection of Joe DiMaggio.
After joining forces with NEIGHBORHOOD to reinterpret the iconic Rolex Daytona and Submariner, luxury watch custom specialists Bamford Watch Department has now aligned with BAPE for another streetwear-inclined variation of Rolex’s classic timepieces, this time featuring the Rolex GMT Master II fake watches with black dials and the Daytona once more.
Both transformed with a sleek black makeover, the top Rolex Daytona replica watch is punctuated by a prominent white BAPE head sandwiched among the chronometric dials with a subtle camo pattern adorning the dial. The GMT however, flaunts a more understated profile with the contrasting white elements surrounding the numbers on the dial, alongside the camo pattern and a magnified Cyclops lens showcasing the date.
Each equipped with Swiss movements Rolex copy watches and a BAPE laser-engraved branding under the chassis — find these limited edition styles exclusively at BWD and Bape flagship locations now.
The world of high-end watches has always been a playground for men.
Toys for boys: that is the favoured descriptor for the high-tech, complicated gadgets men flaunt on their wrists as status symbols.
This is borne out by the avalanche of models that watch companies trot out for men, compared with the trickle of pieces designed for women.
Things, however, are starting to change. In a market challenged by a turbulent global economy and the advent of smart watches, many brands are tapping into their feminine side.
It is a strategy which is not only necessary, but also critical. The global market for women’s luxury watches, according to Euromonitor, is worth more than US$10 billion (S$13.8 billion) a year. Meanwhile, market analysts Bain & Co estimate the share of female watches in the luxury watch market to be more than 30 per cent.
There are other reasons brands are out to attract women. One is their increased spending power. A study by the Boston Consulting Group predicts that women’s consumer spending will hit US$28 trillion next year.
Women’s taste in copy watches with self-winding movements is also changing. No longer are they interested only in smaller sizes and pretty designs. Many women are gravitating towards pieces which are not just beautiful, but also mechanically complex.
A spike in jewellery sales has also crossed over to the luxury watch market. Women usually treat a luxury watch like a piece of jewellery.
Not surprisingly, watch companies have, of late, started introducing not just models, but even lines targeted at women as well.
Audemars Piguet made a splash with the introduction of its women’s Royal Oak in frosted gold. A. Lange & Sohne made headlines with its Little Lange 1 Moon Phase, which packs complex mechanics in a feminine rose-gold case; and Piaget launched Limelight Stella, which boasts its first complication designed for women.
IWC Da Vinci Replica Watches With White Dials
And then there is IWC Schaffhausen, which recently turned its Engineered For Men tagline on its head with the new Da Vinci collection. The range is an update of the first iconic IWC Da Vinci fake watch, released in 1969.
The collection has 14 models. Eight are targeted at women, two are unisex models and the rest are for men.
Ms Franziska Gsell, IWC’s chief marketing officer, said: “With the Da Vinci Collection, we are trying to anchor the brand in the minds of women, who account for a significant proportion of watch lovers.”
The brand embarked on this approach in 2014 when it launched the Portofino 37 collection. A huge hit, the collection included watches designed for smaller wrists.
At the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie trade show in Geneva in January, the watchmaker ditched its traditionally masculine booth for a palace to unveil the Da Vinci replica watches with steel or golden cases.
The timepieces had their Southeast Asian launch last week in Bangkok, at the inauguration of the Da Vinci Exhibition at Siam Paragon mall. Supermodel and IWC ambassador Karolina Kurkova opened the exhibition, which showcases historical timepieces from the brand’s archives – including the Lady’s Wristwatch from 1967 and Lady Chronograph from 1995 – as well as the new pieces from the Da Vinci collection.
The two key women’s exquiste IWC fake watches – of which there are several references or variations – in this collection are the Da Vinci Automatic 36 and Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36. Both are 36mm in diameter.
Like the Portofino, the Automatic 36 is feminine, with rounded crowns and a recessed inner circle on the dial. The movable lug makes for a comfortable fit around the wrist.
There are different versions ranging from $8,150 to $57,300. One has a bezel set with 54 diamonds totalling just under a carat. Others come in gold cases or leather straps in colours such as raspberry and bronze.
IWC’s signature moon phase display takes visual centre stage in the Automatic Moon Phase 36, priced from $12,900 to $24,800.
The moon, in gold or silver, moves clockwise against a dark blue sky. The watch comes with a Caliber 35800 and automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
Like the Automatic 36, it also has Da Vinci’s “the flower of life” pattern engraved on the case back and comes with IWC’s new butterfly clasp. The clasp has three fold-out wings, so the wearer can take off the watch without opening the strap or bracelet.
Women who prefer something bigger can opt for the 40mm Da Vinci Automatic. Designed as a unisex watch, it has a minimalist dial with large Arabic figures and Lancet-shaped hands.
Although women come first, men have not been forgotten. Also part of the IWC collection are the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph and Da Vinci Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph.
The Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is the first watch from IWC to combine the well-known mechanical chronograph with a perpetual moon-phase display on a subdial in a new complication module.
The Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph, meanwhile, has an unusual combination of a classic tourbillon with a retrograde date and a sporty chronograph on a single dial.
Finally, the collection includes the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition Laureus Sport For Good Foundation, a special edition with part of the proceeds going to the Laureus foundation. The organisation helps youth overcome social issues such as violence and discrimination.
In keeping with tradition, this timepiece comes with an etched reproduction of a child’s drawing in an annual competition run by Laureus. The drawing is a self-portrait by Hou Ye, a 12-year-old Paralympian at the Special Olympics East Asia.
In this feature courtesy of our friends at WatchTime Middle East, Dubai-based Christie’s watch specialist Remi Guillemin traces the evolution of the Rolex GMT-Master replica watches with self-winding movements —the iconic Rolex dual-time watch and among the most collectible models to date — through six important references.
Developed during the 1950s, the Rolex GMT-Master exemplifies the extraordinary success achieved by Rolex sport models. Among the most collectible timepieces to date, the GMT-Master was born when the now defunct Pan Am, at the time the world’s largest airline, commissioned Rolex to create a specifically designed watch that allowed its pilots to keep track of time in two locations.
Named after the abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time, the Rolex GMT-Master was developed with an additional hour hand, revolving once every 24 hours, and a revolving bezel graduated for 24 hours. Throughout the years, reliability and quality of manufacturing led the GMT-Master to international fame, enabling it to become one of the most cherished Rolex wristwatches for the novice as well as the experienced collector.
Introduced in 1954, Reference 6542 was the first GMT-Master wristwatch and originated from a regular Rolex Turn-O-Graph Reference 6202, with a modified bezel and movement. The timepiece featured a bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert with 24 hour markings printed on its underside and divided into red and blue sectors. The wristwatch was also bestowed with a beautiful black gloss dial with gilt printing, as well as a case without crown guards. Today, original models in mint condition are exceedingly rare and are cherished by the most sophisticated collectors.
Offered at auction by Christie’s in Geneva on May 16, 2016, the GMT-Master pictured above featured one of the most desirable and unique dials ever seen on a Reference 6542. Throughout the years, its dial color achieved an extremely charismatic copper/brick tonality resulting from the now well-known reaction of the dial varnishes of the period to time and exposure to external elements.
With a beautifully preserved and original case as well as a highly attractive bakelite bezel with intense colors, the pictured timepiece can be considered as one of the most collectible and appealing example of the first Rolex GMT-Master reference.
Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675
Succeeding Reference 6542, the GMT-Master Reference 1675 fake watches with steel cases were produced from 1959 to 1980. Through its long production cycle, the timepiece was astonishingly successful and captured the hearst of many.
Embodying Rolex’s quest to develop the most reliable tool wristwatch possible, this timepiece was created with crown guards as well as an aluminum bezel, enabling its resistance to potential shocks or exposure to external elements arising from active wear. Highly collectible, the GMT-Master 1675 was created in different variations, with cases made of stainless steel, steel and gold, and all gold.
Among the most collectible and rare variations of Reference 1675 are special orders, with many examples of timepieces specifically commissioned for the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman.
Resurfacing in the market on extremely rare occasions, these examples require some expertise in order to assess their authenticity and condition. At auctions, such timepieces grasp the attention of the world’s most astute collectors in search of the rarest timepieces in order to complement their collections.
This exceptional Reference 1675 in stainless steel went on the auction block at Christie’s New York Rare Watches auction in December 2016 and features a dial featuring the “Quraysh Hawk” printed in different padded layers. At its center sits a polychrome enamel Dhow, or Arabian sailboat, replaced today by the UAE federation flag. The dial has Arabic text translated as “Ministry of Defense.” The rarity of the dial is further enhanced by its “radial dial” configuration, in which the markers are placed closer to the center of the dial and the bottom of the crest touching the rectangular 6 o’clock marker.
Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 16758 SARU
Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 16758 SARU
With its expanding devotion to experimentation, Rolex produced some of the most highly coveted GMT-Master timepieces on the market today’ — including precious-stone-set examples of the Reference 16758.
Launched during the 1980s, the model was nicknamed “SARU,” in reference to the alliance of SApphires and RUbies that paid tribute to the original blue-and-red bakelite bezels on timepieces of the 1950s.
Highly unusual for a period where tool watches were initially cased in stainless steel, only a small number of GMT-Master wristwatches were crafted in yellow gold. Timepieces set with gemstones were considered to be some of the Swiss brand’s most exclusive creations and, when offered at auction, they often attract the attention of the most passionate collectors.
Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 16710
Throughout the years, the GMT-Master benefited from further technical enhancements, as with the appearance of the quickset and hack feature, enabling a quicker change of the date and time; and the use of a thicker case and a sapphire crystal.
In 1989, Rolex introduced the GMT-Master II, which featured a new caliber and a slimmer design. The Reference 16710, produced until 2007, enabled the quickset function for the 24-hour hand and encountered various changes to the bezels and bracelets during its production.
Well-received by Rolex collectors, the model could be obtained with an all-black, red-and-black or blue-and-red bezel. Throughout the years this reference was in production, the luminous material present on the dials gradually changed from Luminova to Super-LumiNova.
Some of the most collectible wristwatches part of the reference Rolex 16710 copy watches with black dials include examples with dials bearing the signature of the prestigious retailer, Tiffany & Co. As one of the world’s most renowned jewelry retailers, Tiffany & Co. was also known for selling wristwatches from a few manufacturers.
Scarce in today’s market, as the two companies have now parted ways, Rolex timepieces with Tiffany & Co. printed on their dials testify to the historical relationship between the famous jeweler and Rolex.
Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116710 “Batman”
In 2007, the GMT-Master II Reference 116710 was launched. An important evolution for the model, the wristwatch was a hit once again and featured an important number of new characteristics, as well as multiple variations of the case and bezel.
The reference offered an improved movement, Caliber 3186, as well as a larger case, a new bracelet, a ROLEX engraving on the inner bezel ring, and a ceramic bezel. Attracting much success and representing the most technologically advanced GMT-Master to date, one of the most popular examples of the reference include the 116710BLNR, nicknamed “Batman” due to its black and blue accents.
Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116758SA
Showcasing the creativity of the Rolex manufacture, one of the most acclaimed GMT-Master timepieces is the Ref. 116758SA with a yellow-gold case and a 24-hour rotating bezel set with precious stones, alluding to the highly successful precious-stone-set sport watches made by the brand during the 1980s.
Considered one of the most recognizable timepiece in the world, the Rolex GMT-Master has reached a status that only few other wristwatches have been able to match. With an identity and a case and dial design that have remained consistent over time, the GMT-Master attracts a wide array of enthusiasts and has earned its status as one of the most collectible Rolex wristwatches, fueling the desires of seasoned and novice collectors alike.
