Founded by industry titans Eric Ku and Justin Gruenberg in 2021, the online auction website Loupe This has taken the collectable watch world by storm, offering a platform for buyers and sellers with lower fees yet increased transparency when compared to some of the traditional auction houses.
Over the last three years, hundreds of different watches have passed through the website, offering a huge variety of different qualities and price ranges to purchasers. Here are the top five highest achieving watches sold by the auction platform.
Carter Crash London, Sold For $1.7 million
The Cartier Crash is surrounded by rumours regarding its creation by Cartier London in the sixties. Some believe it was inspired by a melted Maxi Oval from a car accident, and others believe it was simply product of the swinging sixties, which was after all centred around London.
Despite all this mystery, the Crash has developed a long way since then, with a large number of different versions released by the Maison, all of which are limited to some degree. The most important and collectable examples of the Crash however, are early examples such as this one, featuring the London dials. These were the very first ones produced by Cartier London which was at the time a separately run company, by none other than Jean-Jaques Cartier. In the 90s production became centralised by Cartier Paris, which is when Paris began appearing on the dials.
London examples are extremely rare in their own right, but this particular example is even more special as it was produced in 1967, the very first year for the Cartier Crash. This makes it possibly the most important Crash model ever sold.
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Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany & Co, Sold For $1.2 million
In 2021, Patek Philippe began the last production run of the Nautilus reference 5711 —Two models with olive green dials in stainless steel. However, at the end of the year, just when everyone thought it was over, Patek Philippe revealed a final edition reference 5711 in stainless steel again, this time to mark 170 years of partnership between the Genevan watchmaker and Tiffany & Co, its longest standing retailer to date. The dial is in none other than Tiffany blue, featuring the iconic retailer signature at 6.00. As well as this, on the exhibition sapphire crystal case back it features ‘170th Anniversary – 1851-2021 – Tiffany & Co. - Patek Philippe’.
Whilst it was a very dividing piece, it ultimately went on to break records at auction as was extremely coveted by many, despite the 170 piece production not being all that small for a Patek of its value.
The present example was the sixth to appear at auction, and dated 2022.
Philippe Dufour Simplicity, Sold For $500k
Philippe Dufour is widely regarded as one of the greatest watchmakers of this age, having produced his first ever wristwatch for the Basel Fair in 1992. Since then, he has produced exceptional wristwatches in small numbers, with the Simplicity remaining the only serially produced in his collection. It is inspired by the design era of the 40s, featuring a dial with a guilloché centre, surrounded by a chemin de fer followed by a chapter ring adorned with Arabic numerals at 3.00, 9.00 and 12.00. A small seconds subdial fills the space at 6.00.
With Dufour’s annual production estimated at around 12 pieces, this Simplicity is one of approximately 250 Simplicities ever made. It is dated 2007, featuring a 34mm platinum case which houses Dufour’s hand made cal. 11, subject to perhaps the finest movement finishing available in any wristwatch on earth.
Early F.P. Journe Resonance With Brass Movement, Sold For $429k
F.P. Journe’s Chronomètre A Resonance has been hugely popular in recent years, offering a contemporary look with a unique complication. Francois Paul made his first resonance wristwatch in 1999, where he implemented two independent balance wheel assemblies cased in one movement. After a few minutes of being wound, the two balances would synchronise due to their frequencies aligning. It was a worlds first. These early Journe pieces were crucial to providing the cash-flow the business needed to succeed.
More recently, F.P. Journe’s Chronomètre A Resonance has been produced in greater numbers through a variety of different case materials and interesting dials. The movements are now constructed from solid 18-carat pink gold.
The present watch is one of the earliest examples of the Resonance, dated 2001. It features a rich gold dial atop a 38mm platinum case, which houses the old school rhodium plated brass movement.
Roger Smith Series 2, Sold For $423k
As the apprentice to George Daniels, perhaps the most important watchmaker of the 20th and 21st century, Roger Smith certainly carries some serious reputation with him. He created his first pocket watch at the age of 22 which wasn’t to the standards Daniels wanted, so he was further tasked with the construction of a second pocket watch, which ended up taking him five years to produce. On successful completion, this watch earned Roger Smith access to Daniels’ right hand seat to work on his Millennium series.
In 2001 Roger Smith launched his own brand, with the Series 2 collection coming out five years later. Like other watches with the Roger Smith name, the Series 2 is hand crafted in his Isle of Man workshop. It features straight lugs, a fluted crown as well as a small seconds subdial at 6.00 and a power reserve indicator at 10.00.
The present example from 2014 is cased in yellow gold at 40mm in diameter, with a Breguet inspired hand engraved silver dial with black Roman numerals on a brushed silver chapter ring. The basket-worked centre and spade tipped yellow gold hands are all highly reminiscent of fine independent watchmaking like that of Roger Smith.
