Antiquorum 30 years later

SPRING 2004

To celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of Antiquorum, Chopard will introduce a special limited and numbered series of 30 ”L.U.C 4T” in stainless steel. The very first piece will be sold at auction by Antiquorum Geneva on April 24th, 2004 in aid of the Geneva ”Musée de l'horlogerie”.

Before leaving us, he said that he had learned more in one year at Antiquorum than in his whole life. Arnaud Tellier left us to head the Patek Philippe museum. Mimma Viglezio, who had been our marketing director, went on to become the world director of marketing for Bulgari. Nathan Schmolowitch, a professor of horology, contributed to Antiquorum’s beginnings by teaching me the basics in understanding and appreciating Swiss horology through the spirit and philosophy of the Genevan “cabinotier”. This business has afforded me the rare opportunity to become close to some of the most important and influential people in the world: aristocrats, royalty, CEO’s and executives, who find time, in their fleeting moments of relaxation, to discuss our shared passion, horology.

Antiquorum is without a doubt responsible for the development of wristwatch collecting – we were the first ever to create an auction for vintage wristwatches. In 1978 we were the first in horological history to hold an auction in Asia. We were the first international auction house to have a website and online auctions, and the first (and still the only one) in the world to have developed our own system of live interactive online bidding during our classic, live sales.
Antiquorum’s strategy has always been to try to provide as much information to its clients as possible, as clearly and simply as possible. This is evidenced by the fact that we were the first to use conversion boards for foreign currencies, large images of the lot being auctioned in the room, and estimates printed in the catalogue as opposed to mailing them separately, as the other houses used to do.

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Our catalogues contain not only thorough descriptions and photographs of every object, we also provide detailed condition reports printed in the catalogue. We created the thematic sale, for which we have become famous. We celebrated the 150th anniversary of Patek Philippe with a thematic sale in 1989. We followed with events such as the “Art of Breguet”, “French Horology”, “British Horology”, and many more. “The Art of Vacheron Constantin” was featured in 1994, and Antiquorum has been chosen by that company to renew this celebration for their 250th anniversary next year. Cartier joined us in 1996 to launch their 150th anniversary. This type of sale gives our clients the opportunity to examine in great detail a specific manufacturer or theme, and gives us the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience.

We hold more horological world records than another auction house – so many that we can’t even remember the exact number!

Antiquorum is an exceptional success. We are made up of an extraordinary team, who have been, and still are today, my partners in this passionate adventure!

I’ll admit that it hasn’t been all “wine and roses”. Certain difficult moments and painful learning experiences have proved, upon reflection, to be useful and necessary. Along the way we have encountered envy and jealousy; they have not derailed us, but only made us stronger.

So, in thinking back and by sharing these recollections, I take a deep breath and pause a moment longer to thank you all – friends, clients, colleagues, collaborators, admirers, or simply you passionate collectors who follow us, and through us, allow the art to prosper and Antiquorum’s legend to continue.

Every now and then, when the adrenaline is pumping quickly through my veins, as my colleagues assail me – marketing wants new events, clients have inquiries, there’s customs, administration, organization, family, travel, Lisa, Emma, Michel, Sandrina, the Paris office, then Tokyo, and just as I am about to explode, I slow down for a second and remember the beginnings of Antiquorum, and even though it’s just for a brief instant, it’s enough to fill me with the energy to continue that which I started years ago.
I have never doubted even for a second during all these years that what I have been doing has been worth it. I have often thanked my lucky stars for blessing me with a profession that I love, surrounded by people that I admire, in this wonderful world that is horology. I am grateful to have been accompanied in my life by people that knew at just the right moment how to help me move ahead and evolve in my passion. I am grateful to have colleagues who, like myself, love this field which both stimulates the intellect and the spirit. While at times exhausting, and often a bit too exclusive, this is nonetheless a rewarding and exciting profession.
It has sustained my passion – a passion which has given me the opportunity to live among the things I love and to handle the most beautiful watches in the world. I have probably had the privilege to have examined more timepieces, of a greater variety, than anyone else in the world. This has helped in giving me the experience and reputation which has ultimately made Antiquorum what it is today.

Many famous people in the world of horology have been associated at one time or another with Antiquorum. Both Gerald Genta and Franck Muller were “in house” when Gabriele and I founded Antiquorum in 1974. Michel Parmigiani came to work as an apprentice with us right after finishing horology school. Philippe Dufour, Roger Dubuis, Antoine Preziuso, and Swen Anderson all worked for Antiquorum. Many beers were shared by Francois Paul Journe, Simon Bull and myself as we spent endless evenings debating horological matters.

All of these famous watch entrepreneurs found their beginnings at Antiquorum, which proved to be a magnet for them, providing them with the chance to discover Geneva, which had once again become fertile ground following the terrible years after the invasion of the Oriental quartz watches. I have had the good fortune of having friends like Jean-Claude Sabrier, who after 10 years of collaboration, was chosen by Mr. Hayek to build the future Breguet museum.