WATCH COLLECTION A become some kind of phenomenon. Less than nine months after its first auction, the company has achieved over £8million in sales.
Add to that a number of international auction records, and it’s clear that this fledgling platform means serious business.
In March 2021, his very first auction day brought his first record, for a “double sealed” Patek Philippe 5711 Nautilus. The months since launch have seen a steady stream of world-leading auction prices across a wide range of watch brands and models.
This is not surprising when you look at the fee structure: sellers pay 0% commission and, other than photography if they need it, there are no other costs. Buyers pay just 5% plus VAT on sales above £10,000 and a flat fee of £500 plus VAT below that level.
Compare that to the typical 5-10% commission at a traditional auction house with a 25% buyer’s premium plus tax and you see Watch Collecting buyers have the freedom to keep bidding, get a higher hammer price and return more money to the seller. .
It’s usually a win-win, with the buyer paying less than they would elsewhere and the seller receiving more, but not always.
The already impressive reach of Watch Collecting has also seen all-time records set, surpassing the all-inclusive price of traditional auctions.
June saw an international record set for a 2015 Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Anniversary Watch. Affectionately known as the Omega ‘Snoopy’, this watch fetched an unprecedented £28,000 for its seller.
The following month, a salesperson was referred to the platform with a 1993 steel and gold Rolex Submariner, but one factory fitted with a rare lapis lazuli dial.
Watch Collecting not only beat the best trade offer it received for the watch at £9,500, it also eclipsed the previous auction record of £30,000 set in 2018, reaching an astonishing £64,000.
Watch Collecting is disrupting the watch auction market in so many other ways, whether it’s the ease of listing, the speed of turnaround, or the cutting-edge photography it offers. Most auctions offer up to three photographs, merchant sites around eight. Watch Collecting insists on 20-30 high resolution photographs of the watch and all associated accessories, so buyers can clearly see what they are getting.
All of this is backed by a team of watch enthusiasts aiming to provide the easiest and best value way to buy or sell a watch online.
To buy or sell watches, see watchcollecting.com