Watches at Auction - Marlon Brando's Rolex

The highlights of the upcoming Christie’s auction in Geneva (‘Passion for Time’, 6 November) include the Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 worn by Marlon Brando when playing Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 classic “Apocalypse Now”. Marlon Brando ‘customised’ this piece by hand-engraving his name on the caseback.  In addition, as Petra Brando Fischer recalls: “....he wore the watch on the set of Apocalypse Now in the Philippines, being asked  to take it off during filming as it would stand out too much.” She said her father argued that ‘If they’re looking at my watch, then I’m not doing my job as an actor,’ and the powers that be on set eventually relented.

 

 

Brando went a step further, by removing the bezel as well as the steel bracelet, which he replaced with a sober black strap, and pared down to essentials, allegorically mirrored the character of Kurtz.

Estimate: CHF 1,000,000-2,000,000

 
 

Vintage ad - A. Michel

ENGLISH

"Our company supplies all kinds of raw movements, anchor and cylinder, 5 to 20 lignes - We do not manufacture complete watches". This 1923 ad reminded industry players that A. Michel only made and supplied raw movements. In 1926, the company was among the founding members of the Ebauches S.A. group along with A.S. (A. Schild) and FHF (Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon).

Do you like vintage watch ads? Visit the page about Watch Ads, the one and only two-volume pictorial history of communication and design in 20th Century watchmaking. Do you wish to know more? Watch the video clip about the publication and download the preview of Volume 1.

ITALIANO  
"La nostra compagnia fornisce movimenti di ogni tipo, ad ancora o a cilindro, da 5 a 20 linee - Non produciamo orologi completi". Questo annuncio del 1923 ricordava ai professionisti del settore che A. Michel si limitava alla produzione e fornitura di movimenti grezzi. Nel 1926, la compagnia fu tra i membri fondatori del gruppo Ebauches S.A. insieme con A.S. (A. Schild) e FHF (Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon).
Ti piacciono le pubblicità d'epoca? Visita la pagina su Watch Ads, l'unica storia illustrata in due volumi della comunicazione e del design nell'orologeria del Novecento. Vuoi saperne di più? Guarda il video sull'opera e scarica l'anteprima del Volume 1.

  

Upcoming Auctions – Only Watch 2023

The one-off timepieces being auctioned at the Only Watch sale on 5 November in Geneva are on display in a promotional tour traveling from America to Europe, via Asia and the Middle East. Held by Christie’s, the event’s tenth edition will benefit research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other genetic diseases. A total of 73 brands are participating, including 16 collaborations and 16 first-time entries. In addition to contributions by prestigious manufacturers, the 62 timepieces feature emerging watchmaking talents; reflecting the charity's approach, funding research undertaken by doctoral and post-doctoral students. The pictures below feature just a small selection from the Only Watch catalog.

Frederique Constant Tourbillon Planetarium

Furlan Marri Secular Perpetual Calendar

 

Krayon Anywhere

 

Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer

 

Maurice Lacroix

 

Reservoir x Télôs

 

 

New Releases – Ocean Moon V RAAF Limited Edition 2023

For this limited edition Royal Australian Air Force release, Bausele utilizes the Sellita SW200 Swiss automatic movement. The timepiece features a Faraday cage shock system and two screw-down crowns, the second of which controls an inner bi-directional count-up bezel for diving. The large hands, indices, and digits outfitted with Super-Luminova contrast with the blue sunray-style sandwich dial. Both the dial and the case back are adorned with the RAAF name and kangaroo logo. The 42 mm case is in 316L brushed surgical grade stainless steel.

 

 

Watches of Italy

La quarta edizione di W.O.I. - Watches Of Italy, mostra dedicata alla produzione orologiera italiana, si terrà sabato 14 e domenica 15 ottobre 2023 (ingresso gratuito, dalle 10:00 alle 19:00) presso il Museo delle Macchine Agricole "Orsi" a Tortona, in via Emilia 446. L’evento permette di vedere e toccare con mano i nuovi prodotti, incontrarne i fabbricanti, acquistare in loco orologi ed accessori. La lista completa degli espositori è disponibile qui. Domenica 15 i visitatori potranno assistere a una tavola rotonda dal titolo “La professione dell’orologiaio in Italia”, animata da addetti ai lavori. Fabrizio Dallachà, ideatore e organizzatore della manifestazione, annuncerà inoltre la nascita dell’Associazione “Filiera Orologiera Italiana”, progetto parallelo a WOI.

 

‘Arabic Dials’ at auction

The catalog of the Dubai Edit online auction held by Christie’s from 5 to 19 October includes an ensemble of ‘Arabic Dial’ Day Date Rolexes. Their dial features the ‘Qaboos’ signature, i.e. the signature of the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, the ruler of Oman from 1970 to 2020 - or Khanjar logo - the national emblem of the Sultanate of Oman. Circa 1974. Estimate: US$35,000-55,000.

Another remarkable timepiece is a platinum Patek Philippe Ref. 5077P-091 presenting an enamel dial with a miniature painting of two Arab huntsmen engaged in the art of falconry. Circa 2007. Estimate: US$ 150’000-250’000.

 

New Releases – Gérald Charles Maestro 8.0 GC Sport Squelette

 

The Maison’s first automatic skeleton watch with the screw-down crown on the left features the Maestro case and Royal Blue vulcanized rubber strap, both Mr. Gérald Charles Genta’s original drawings. It is designed by the Maison's Creative Director Octavio Garcia and manufactured in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. Its shape is the result of a square and an octagon, with an overall fit of 40mm and a thickness of just 8.35mm thanks to the open-worked movement of just 2.6 mm. The sandblasting finish of the Grade 5 Titanium case results in a special and dark shade of grey. The thinnest timepiece in the Core Collection is also light, with a total weight of only 59.5 grams.