The pre-owned watch industry is a world full of discovery, thrills and fast-paced action, and those who work in it have to be hot on the pulse.
Sean Johnson has a decade of experience working right in the thick of the action, with stints at watch resell platforms including Sotheby’s, The RealReal and Circ, before joining Hindman Auctions earlier this year.
Sean has started at Hindman with a bang, overseeing the recent auction of a Patek Philippe Ref. 3800 yellow gold Nautilus with white dial that sold for almost double its estimated value at $68,750.
This, Sean says, is just him warming up; he’s got big plans for the future of Hindman.
“My goal is to continue to elevate our game, developing Hindman into a premier destination for collectors to achieve record-breaking prices and to source some of the most sought-after watches,” he says.
Looking to combat the challenges the industry is facing, Sean views the social media revolution as a double-edged sword.
“On one hand, it has democratized information and has allowed a new generation of watch collectors to appreciate the art of horology,” he muses.
“On the other, it has created a concentration towards very specific collections, neglecting others that deserve equal attention.”
Sean wants to inspire the next generation of collectors to appreciate not only the watches themselves, but the engineering, craftsmanship and history behind them.
One of the other difficulties the industry is facing is the increasing number of counterfeits infiltrating pre-owned watch spaces.
“They have become increasingly sophisticated,” he remarks, but thanks to Sean’s expertise and knowledge, they won’t be finding their way into Hindman.
“It is key to always have a pulse on the new techniques criminals use to deceive watch collectors.”
