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Antiquorum’s New Grading System for Timepieces,
Fall 2007
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| To understand the grade shown in the experts’ grading box, consult the Experts’ Overall Opinion. See example below: |
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1 |
as new |
2 |
in perfect condition |
3 |
very good |
4 |
good |
5 |
fair |
Antiquorum Grading System for
Timepieces
& Experts’ Overall Opinion
With a view to always providing a higher standard of service to its clientele, Antiquorum has introduced a grading system within its auction catalogues, providing immediate and detailed information on the condition of each lot offered for sale.
With the assistance of the Antiquorum Grading System, clients will have immediate answers to their questions regarding the condition of each lot, and will no longer need to find the time to request condition reports.
In addition, with the Experts’ Overall Opinion, clients will benefit from the advice of Antiquorum’s
experts as each lot is given a grade based on its overall
appreciation.
Although every effort has been made to remain objective, clients are nonetheless advised that any grading or condition report will, of necessity, be subjective.
Clients are reminded that all statements made in the
Antiquorum Grading System, in the Experts’ Overall
Opinion or in any other condition report for any lot,
are provided for information only and should not be considered
as a guarantee of any sort. Such information is given
as an opinion for which Antiquorum cannot be held responsible.
Furthermore, Antiquorum cannot be held responsible for
any misrepresentations or incomplete information regarding
the condition of any lot.
GRADING SYSTEM GUIDE
The lots described in this catalogue have been carefully examined and valued by Antiquorum’s experts and watchmakers, taking into consideration the aesthetical, historical and technical interest, age and rarity, as well as the technology available at the time of production of each timepiece.
For such judgment to be as objective as possible, it must rest on a number of criteria, particularly with regards to the age of a lot. Indeed, a wristwatch of less than 50 years old cannot be judged with the same
criteria as a Renaissance watch. This is the reason why some of the gradings will only qualify for certain types of watches and will never be used for others.
For example, if, as a general rule, watches can be attributed gradings from 1 to 4 for the case, the dial and the movement, watches of less than 100 years old can be given grading 1 (as new), 3 (in very good condition), or 4 (in good condition). The latter, (grading 4), will be followed by one or more grading numbers to justify why the lot cannot be considered “in very good condition”.
On the other hand, watches over 100 years old, of similar condition, would indeed be considered as “very good” because of their age and would therefore qualify for grading 3. Needless to say, watches over 100 years old, even in the best state of conservation for their age, are unlikely to ever be considered “as new” and would therefore never be eligible for grading 1; for this reason, we have introduced grading 2 (in perfect condition).
At the end of each lot description, before the estimate, you will find a condition report box, with letters and numbers, divided into 3 sections: these are the grades given to the lot with reference to the condition of its case, its dial and hands, and its movement.
To understand the grades shown in the condition report box, consult the Antiquorum Grading System as follows:
C for the case, followed by one or more numbers = condition of case
D for the dial (& hands), followed by one or more numbers = condition of dial & hands
M for the movement, followed by one or more numbers = condition of movement
Next to this condition report box, is an experts’ grading box featuring one letter, from to B, as an overall grade. This overall grade is the opinion of Antiquorum’s experts, as a global appreciation of the lot, based on its general condition, quality, technical and historical interest, age and rarity. On this basis, it must be understood that a very early timepiece, a prototype or a watch featuring a rare escapement, although it may be in a mediocre state of conservation, even re-cased or lacking its dial, can qualify for gradings AAA or even .
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(C) CASE
DETAILS
6 patinated
7 slightly oxydized
8 oxydized
9 slightly scratched
10 scratched
11 deeply scratched
12 a dent
13 2 dents
14 multiple dents
15 slightly worn
16 worn
17 very worn
18 repolished edges preserved
19 repolished edges altered
20 back threading damaged
21 period original
22 later original
23 period
24 later
25 custom-made
26 replacements
27 lacking elements
28 transformations
29 alterations
30 damaged
31 very damaged
32 slightly restored
33 restorations
34 worn pushpiece
35 worn pushpieces
36 replaced pushpieces
37 later original crown
38 period crown
39 to be restored
40 partially re-gilt
41 re-gilt
42 bow replaced
43 hinge worn
44 hinge restored
45 renumbered
ENAMEL AND VARIOUS
TYPES OF DECORATION46 hairline
47 2 hairlines
48 multiple hairlines
49 slightly scratched
50 scratched
51 slightly worn
52 worn
53 very worn
54 very slightly chipped
55 chipped
56 damaged
57 very damaged
58 slight restoration (hard enamel)
59 restored (hard enamel)
60 slight restoration (soft enamel)
61 restored (soft enamel)
62 period original
63 later original
64 period
65 later
66 custom-made
67 to be restored
68 pearl missing
69 pearls missing
70 paste stone missing
71 paste stones missing
72 precious stone missing
73 precious stones missing
74 outer overglaze
(D) DIAL
METALLIC DIAL DETAILS
7 slightly oxydized
8 oxydized
9 slightly scratched
10 scratched
11 deeply scratched
12 a dent
13 2 dents
14 multiple dents
15 spotted
16 slightly worn
17 worn
18 very worn
19 damaged
20 refreshed
21 soft overglazed
22 slightly restored
23 restorations
24 partly rubbed
25 very well reprinted by
the manufacture
26 partially reprinted
27 very well reprinted
28 well reprinted
29 reprinted
30 luminous reprinted
31 alterations
32 period, original
33 later original
34 period
35 later
36 custom-made
37 to be restored
ENAMEL DIAL DETAILS
38 slightly oxydized
39 slightly scratched
40 scratched
41 deeply scratched
42 hairline
43 two hairlines
44 multiple hairlines
45 chip(s) or hairline(s)
under bezel, not visible
when closed
46 hairline, subsidiary dial
47 hairlines, subsidiary dial
48 chipped subsidiary dial
49 hairline(s) barely visible
50 slightly worn
51 worn
52 very slightly chipped
53 chipped, winding aperture
54 chipped
55 damaged
56 slightly restored
57 restorations
58 soft overglazed
59 partly rubbed
60 alterations
61 period, original
62 later original
63 period
64 later
65 custom-made
66 to be restored
HANDS
01 later original
02 partially replaced
03 period
04 later
05 repaired
06 damaged
07 new luminous
(M) MOVEMENT
DETAILS
6 patinated
7 slightly oxydized
8 oxydized
9 slightly scratched
10 scratched
11 plating slightly deteriorated
12 plating deteriorated
13 rusted
14 a dent
15 dents
16 replacements
17 lacking elements
18 later escapement
19 upgraded
20 later balance
21 transformations
22 alterations
23 damaged
24 very damaged
25 slightly restored
26 restorations
27 inscription rubbed
28 re-rhodiumed
29 re-gilt
30 period, original
31 later original
32 period
33 later
34 custom-made
35 to be overhauled
36 to be restored
- a. cleaned
- b. minor
- c. major
- d. broken staff
* overhaul recommended
(at buyer’s expense)
** overhaul required
(at buyer’s expense)
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