The century-old association between classic cars and prestige watchmakers comes together this month in Monterey, California, where the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance motoring week is enriched with a number of watch-related events.
Pre-owned Rolex specialist Bob’s Watches is using the occasion to work with RM Sotheby’s on an online-only auction of 18 classic watches with a link to the motoring world.
“Watches and cars go together so naturally, and complement each other so perfectly, so I was ecstatic to provide the eighteen watches for the auction. Every lot is more special than the next, and the same goes for the cars,” says Paul Altieri, founder & CEO of Bob’s Watches, which is headquartered in California.
The auction runs online from 14-20 August, with all 18 timepieces on public view at the Monterey Conference Center until August 17.
It is the second time Bob’s Watches has provided watches for a Sotheby’s car-related auction, having previously collaborated on a sale associated with the 90th Monaco Formula One Grand Prix earlier this year.
Fourteen of the 18 auction lots come from Rolex, with additional pieces from Omega, Patek Philippe and Heuer.
Many are extremely hard to buy pieces with multi-year waiting lists such as a Rolex GMT Master II with Pepsi bezel that has an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000 so likely to sell at more than double its price new from an authorized dealer.
A Rolex ref. 6538 “James Bond Submariner,” aka “Big Crown” Submariner is promoted with an estimate of $180,000 – $280,000). The watch, made famous by Sean Connery, is being sold in the same week by RM Sotheby’s as a 1965 Aston Martin DB5, one of two examples used for the launch of the film, Thunderball.
Watches Online: The Driver’s Collection is open for bidding 14 – 20 August.
