The time has clearly come

NOT since the Renaissance has the fascination with watches on auction been as great as now, says Barnebys, the world’s leading auction search engine which hosts 3 000 auction houses and offers 65 million prices achieved at auctions worldwide.

Barnebys’s database shows the market for watches is going ballistic. The company says it is exclusive brands that are the hottest tickets on the market and continue to make records at auction. Watches are now one of the most collectable of categories which include wine, cars, art and antiques.

Barnebys has found that the most searched for watch brand is Rolex, followed by Omega and Patek Philippe. Unlike most other collecting areas, wristwatches attract a younger audience.

Over 90% of the searches on Barnebys are made by men between 18 and 34.

But more and more women are also looking for exclusive wristwatches.

Pontus Silfverstolpe, founder of Barnebys, says: “At Barnebys, we now see a clear pattern emerging of a younger generation of men, with money to spend.

“First, they buy watch brands like Rolex, Omega and Patek Phillipe

“Then they buy a Porsche or Ferrari at auction while they fill the wine cellar with rare vintage wines and – last but not least – their walls are then filled with contemporary art.” – Auctions Writer