Expert at the Paris Court of Appeal since 2013 and CEO of Antiquorum, the oldest auction house specializing in watches, since 2017, Romain Réa shares exclusively with The Point his advice for buying wisely.
The Point: Today, the secondary market for watches is often associated with speculation. Why are buyers turning to you?
Romain Réa: The secondary watch market is indeed influenced by speculation, but other motivations drive buyers to Antiquorum. First of all, the passion for watchmaking. Enthusiasts buy watches to add to their collection, often attracted by the craftsmanship, history, aesthetics and uniqueness of a watch. We are committed to offering the most complete catalogs possible to represent watchmaking in its entirety.
One of our great specialties at Antiquorum is finding vintage rarities in excellent condition or modern limited edition pieces. As in any purchase of luxury goods, there is also the social motivation, the status symbol. Owning certain watches can be seen as a sign of success or refinement, and acquiring them through bidding wars reinforces this pleasure even more.
Finally, as you mention, investment and appreciation of value: many buy watches hoping that they will increase in value over time, especially models […] Read more
