5 of our favourite watches available via Sotheby’s x Bucherer Certified Pre-Owned
Zach BlassAccording to the Boston Consulting Group, pre-owned watch sales accounted for nearly one third of the total watch sales for the year – with pre-owned watch sales representing $22 billion of the $75 billion in watch sales for the year. Pre-owned watch sales are also projected to overtake first-hand ones by 2033 according to Bloomberg. With the market for pre-owned watches exponentially growing, so is the amount of inventory being positioned for second-hand sale, but not all listings are created equal. Buying the seller has become a common trope within the watch community, as only a trustworthy vendor can offer the peace of mind necessary to safely spend your hard-earned cash. Bucherer Certified Pre-owned is one such program, offering a safe and guaranteed outlet to purchase watches second-hand, and they have recently teamed up with popular auction house Sotheby’s to present Sotheby’s x Bucherer Certified Pre-Owned. In simple terms, this means you can now head to the Sotheby’s website for a curated selection of Bucherer’s CPO offerings.
Josh Pullan, Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division explains: “With the watch market stronger and more global than ever before, we are excited about this exclusive partnership with Bucherer, which will offer an extraordinary portfolio of certified pre-owned watches to a collector base, whom in recent years, have increasingly demonstrated interest in transacting the finest timepieces online. We’re especially proud to be the only auction house to offer this level of certification and warranty, ensuring each watch gives its wearer only joy and peace of mind for years to come. The partnership with Bucherer also marks another important milestone in the continued growth of our curated online marketplace, which continues to innovate since its launch nearly two years ago.”
Patrick Graf, Chief Commercial Officer at Bucherer adds: “Bucherer has established itself as one of the world’s leading luxury retailers, curating an assortment of the most iconic watch brands online and in over 100 locations across Europe and the US, and we realise there is a growing demand for differentiation by owning a luxury watch that is unique in its own way. By bringing our curated Certified Pre-Owned watches on Sotheby’s premier online marketplace and combining our respective expertise, together we are creating a unique opportunity for watch lovers worldwide to express their personality by purchasing iconic pre-owned watches online alongside a strong curation of other luxury goods categories within fashion, jewellery and more.”
With over 100 watches listed for sale in the Sotheby’s x Bucherer Certified Pre-Owned program, I decided to do some digging and pick five of the best offerings I could find.
Blancpain ref. 2102-1127 71, circa 2002
Watches marketed to women often fall flat to the shrink-it-and-pink-it phenomenon, but this Blancpain ref. 2102-1127 71 is looking to buckle this trend. While smaller in stature, it offers a robust, 100-metre water-resistant case up to par for daily wear. Aesthetically speaking, the watch is versatile, with a monochromatic aesthetic that in its silvery hue can be paired with any wardrobe. Its 9.4mm thickness is also cuff-friendly, should that be a consideration. Inside, the Blancpain automatic calibre 951 offers 40 hours of power reserve. So, for a smidge over US$4,000, you can get a watch from a prestigious brand, in a case that is robust for its size.
Price: US$4,180. Click here to purchase.
Zenith Defy Classic Skeleton ref. 49.9000.670/77.R782, circa 2021
The Zenith Defy Classic Skeleton, dare I say, was underappreciated for much of its run. Like streams surging for a musical artist after their passing, it has found a resurgence of interest in the wake of it discontinuation. Our very own Defy Classic Skeleton ‘Night Surfer’ Time+Tide Edition was one of the last Defy Classic models to be released, before the Skyline collection, and its 1/10th of a second counter, replaced it. The technological boast and hi-beat signature of the counter is certainly something to be proud of, but some, including myself, are thrown off by the Skyline’s small seconds hand making a full revolution every 10 seconds instead of the typical 60. With more spotlight on the Defy after the Skyline debut, many are looking back to the Classic to get this handsome model with its more conventional means of displaying running seconds. A wrist-friendly 41mm black ceramic case, only 45mm lug-to-lug, with an in-house calibre and 100-metre depth rating. What’s not to like?
Price: US$6,680. Click here to purchase.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ref. 210.92.44.20.01.001, circa 2019
The Omega Seamaster is one of the most well-known watches in the world – an icon of Omega’s catalogue since 1948. Perhaps lesser known than its stainless steel peers is the variant in a larger 43.5mm black ceramic case that is 14.3mm thick and 51.5mm lug-to-lug. Ceramic, while prone to cracking upon extreme impact, is lightweight and very scratch-resistant, which is why it’s often a material of choice for bezel inserts. This ref. 210.92.44.20.01.001 offers a super stealthy take on the Seamaster, but inside is everything you know and love about the more common steel models.
The automatic, METAS-certified Master Chronometer Omega calibre 8806 packs in the famed George Daniels-created co-axial escapement, anti-magnetic resistance rating up to 15,000 Gauss, 55 hours of power reserve, and a pledged accuracy within +5 seconds per day. The handsomely, albeit industrially finished, movement with Geneva waves in arabesque stretching out across the bridges and winding rotor can be seen via the exhibition caseback. For reference, this listed ref. 210.92.44.20.01.001 is described to be in “very good” condition and can be had for US$1,280 less than its retail price.
Price: US$7,620. Click here to purchase.
Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso ref. 278.8.54
The Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso, and its flippable case, opens the doors to new means and methods of expressing complications. Sure, the model traditionally had a solid backside to the mid-carriage – where engravings or micro-painting could be performed. In recent times, however, JLC and their mastery of movements have allowed them to use this second side as a second dial. In the case of the ‘Night & Day’ ref. 278.8.54, the duoface allows this Reverso to be a nifty travel time watch. On its front dial, it is executed in the classic original 1931 style, simply with ‘Reverso’ branding at 12 o’clock and with a small seconds counter at 6. On the second dial though, you have a Jaeger-LeCoultre-branded dark grey guilloché dial that displays the hours and minutes, as well as sporting a 24-hour indicator at 6 o’clock.
Above the crown is a pusher which will jump the hours and small 24-hour hand forward on the dark grey dial only. The white dial will always indicate your home time, while the dark grey, by simply using this pusher, can be quickly set to local time wherever you are. Also, all the hands and hour indices on the dark grey dial use SuperLuminova for a neat sporty twist. Last little specification bits – stainless steel, 30 metres water-resistant, in-house, manually-wound 854/1 calibre, 27.4mm in diameter, 9.3mm thick, and 46.8mm lug-to-lug.
Price: US$11,060. Click here to purchase.
Girard-Perregaux 1966 ref. 49535-53-152-BK6A, circa 2022
These days, Girard-Perregaux is probably most known for their Laureato lineup, in a watch world where sportier pieces reign. However, the brand has much more to offer than just the Laureato. On the other side of the spectrum, the 1966 collection offers a dressier and more conventional watch aesthetic. This particular reference offers a water-resistant, 40mm, 18k white gold case with a clean, crip, and symmetrical silver dial that has an in-house automatic movement which has hours, minutes, seconds, day, month, date, and moon phase indications – a full calendar.
At 11.1mm thick it is rather slender, and at 45.1mm lug-to-lug it will suit a wide spectrum of wrists with ease. It is not bold or peacocking – this is a timeless watch that offers a reserved sense of classicism and elegance that will never go out of style. Considering its level of complication, finely decorated in-house movement with a solid gold rotor and a precious metal case, the price is rather alluring.