collection

Asian Art Goes under the Gavel in London this Week

Sotheby's and Christie's are heading east to seek their respective fortunes. The two auction houses are offering more than $26 million of Asian art this week in London. The lots themselves are attracting record numbers of buyers from mainland China, a section of the market that has shown signs of life this year. Chinese buyers were quite active in Hong Kong last month.

Nicholas Chow of Sotheby's told Bloomberg News, ""We've seen a really aggressive push from mainland Chinese collectors during the last season of sales" and that "they're buying things at the very highest level." An Imperial jade seal, for example, moved for GBP3.6 million on Tuesday, six times the high-end presale estimate.

On November 3, Christie's sold an aggregate GBP5.7 million, beating the presale estimate of GBP5.2 million. Of the 319 lots, a third didn't move. The top seller was an eighteenth century enamel model of a Buddhist shrine, which beat its presale range of GBP60,000 to GBP80,000 with a hammer sale of GBP229,250. Nine of the top 10 most expensive items went to buyers from Asia.

Collectors from mainland China are quite eager to repatriate art and other objects from their heritage, particularly the Qing and Ming dynasties ... a fact of which the auction houses are fully aware. Christie's sent 210 invitations to mainland Chinese for its 12th annual Asian Art in London event, which ends November 7, 2009. Sotheby's pursued a similar number of collectors. Bonhams has invited 30 new buyers from mainland China.

In October, the Sotheby's Hong Kong art auction was good for $170 million, with plenty of bidding and buying by mainland Chinese buyers.

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Tags: art, art auction, art auctions, art collector, ArtAuction, ArtAuctions, ArtCollector, asian art, AsianArt, auction, auction-house, auctionhouse, auctions, bonhams, bonhams auction, BonhamsAuction, china, christies, collectibles, collection, collector, collectors, hong kong, HongKong, jade, london, ming, qing, sothebys

Vacheron Constantin Three Dragons Limited Edition Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Vacheron Constantin recently opened up a new boutique in Hong Kong. To celebrate, they have also released three new limited edition Dragon watches. There will only be nine of each of the three watches made in this highly limited edition. The dragon motifs are each hand made, involving an incredible amount of delicate work. in addition to the hand applied decoration, there is also a fair amount of guilloche machine engraving that also requires a very skilled artist to apply.

Each of the three watches is done in a different shade of gold, along with a different image of the Chinese style dragon. Vacheron Constantin is well versed in artistic watch creations such as this. The Mask collections come to mind when thinking of their talents here. Inside the watches is a manufacture made Vacheron Constantin movement, and each is attached to a high quality black alligator strap. Vacheron Constantin is serious about China, not just Hong Kong, as the country is poised to breed a new generation of watch buyers given the current economic growth there in comparison to the rest of the world. Plus, Hong Kong remains one of the most important watch market capitals of the world - so the opening of the new "Flagship Boutique" by Vacheron Constantin there makes sense. I suspect it is the only place that these watches can be acquired.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: boutique, china, collection, dragon, hong kong, HongKong, timepiece, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch

Art Dealer Sells at Top of Bubble, Then Does Something Strange

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Charity

hirst pharmacy Selling at the top of a bubble is fantastic ... if you can pull it off. You look, feel and live like an absolute genius. Former art dealer Anthony d'Offay did this, unloading 725 postwar and contemporary pieces before the art market collapsed, dragged down by a global financial crisis. Timing is everything, and the collection purchased for a mere £26.5 million was valued at an astounding £125 million. Included were Jeff Koons' "Winter Bears," an Andy Warhol hamburger (evidently more expensive than those at Burger Joint) and an Anselm Kiefer palm tree.

D'Offay didn't make a dime.

Rather than sell the collection at a profit of close to £100 million, he sold them to the United Kingdom at cost: £26.5 million. Instead of taking the money, d'Offay chose to be paid with strings ... namely those attached to the deal. The condition of his sale was that the country had to send the artwork on tour throughout the UK, making it easy for people under age 18 to access the art.

D'Offay explains that financial constraints on British museums – which are free and thus have no money with which to acquire new pieces – are great for the people, but not for keeping the walls full with fresh material. On the list for the future is a special room for Damien Hirst's "Pharmacy" installation and has already purchased Hirst's "Painkillers" piece (pill cabinet) for $877,000. In a deal with Hirst, he also picked up work by Koons, and Hirst's new "Necromancer." Hirst was d'Offay's gallery assistant as he was finishing college.

D'Offay's talent, he says, is buying art, rather than curating or creating. He became inspired as a child in northern England when viewing a collection of Francis Bacon (shocking, right? Bacon connection comes back again ...).

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Tags: andy warhol, AndyWarhol, art, art collection, art dealer, art market, ArtCollection, ArtDealer, artist, ArtMarket, artwork, british, collection, damien hirst, DamienHirst, england, entertainment-awards, jeff koons, JeffKoons, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom, warhol

$40,000 Seiko Decor Collection Perpetuity Mantel Clock

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Match this with your $100 Seiko, I dare you. Actually, Seiko makes some VERY nice stuff. Most Americans have never heard of Grand Seiko, or their luxury brand Credor, but Seiko does some remarkable things when it comes to luxury and telling the time. Most of these more expensive watches and clocks are not available or really hard to come by in the US though. Seiko figures most of you won't take a $1,000 plus Seiko seriously. Well I do, cause I know better. Still, this $40,000 plus Seiko Decor Collection Perpetuity Mantel clock might be a bit overkill.

The clock sits on a wood and brass base. Much of the brass is gold plated. The housing is glass and brass with stainless steel as well as aluminum. The movement is totally mechanical with an 8 day power reserve manually wound mechanism. The big clocks weighs about 35 pounds and is anything but diminutive at over 15 inches wide and 19 inches tall. While the movement is mechanical, it does have a quartz regulator just like the Seiko Spring drive movements. This gives it the allure of a mechanical movement with the accuracy of a quartz movement. Everything is made using Seiko's highest level of quality (which is pretty high). Being part of the Decor Collection, the clock is meant to be a serious statement of class and taste in ones home (according to Seiko that is). Still wondering what the other $30,000 - $35,000 is for though.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: clock, collection, decor, mantel, mechanical, perpetuity, seiko

Whisky Collection Of Over 3,000 Bottles To Go Up For Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

I love the stories of methodical, obsessed collectors, it's always worth checking out their collections when they come up for auction. When it comes to whisky, Willard S Folsom was a man consumed. According to Bonhams, which will auction off his collection, a USA Today article of all things started Folsom's interest in single malts. This led to an 18-year love affair that took Folsom to Scotland and England, taking his wife and son along with him, not just to show them the world but to have them carry suitcases full of whisky.

The resulting collection spans over 3,000 bottles and includes some of the great names in the whisky world such as Ardbeg, Bowmore, Dalmore, Glenfiddich, Laphroaig, Springbank, Kinclaith, Killyloch, Ben Wyvis, Glen Grant, Glenmorangie, The Glenlivet, Strathmill, Mortlach and The Macallan. Martin Green, Bonhams Whisky Specialist says that in his over 20 years of conducting whisky auctions this is "the most exciting collection I have ever handled. Many of the bottles included in the collection will never be released again or repeated by the whisky industry and so the sale of the collection provides the opportunity to buy many collectables of the future."

The first section of the collection of the Late Willard Folsom will be offered for sale on November 18 at Bonhams Edinburgh, with the remaining stock sold in New York and Hong Kong in early 2010. Folsom's philosophy was "Some say the glass is half empty, others say it's half full. I say, pour the water out and put some Scotch in that glass." His collection offers many opportunities to do that.

[via BBC News]

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Tags: bonhams, collection, scotch, whisky

Bulgari Serpenti Watch Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

To most people in the industry, it is obvious that Bulgari is having problems. Sales are hurting and although the economy seems to be rebounding a bit, the recovery of the luxury market usually sits impatiently at the end of the line. To help remedy things, Bulgari has been looking to its past for inspiration on what it can release that will be irresistible to fans of the brand. A new collection looks back to what helped make Bulgari the well known luxury name that it is. This watch is part of the Serpenti collection which is going to be a whole line of watches and jewelry. For women only I believe.

The watch face sits at the end of a wrist wrapping bracelet that is shaped like a series of reptilian scales while the bracelet itself is meant to resemble a serpent. The face has an almost arrow-head style triangular look to with while gold and diamonds make up the hour markers. Inside the watch is a small quartz movement. The Serpenti watches are available in a number of styles and materials. Each made of 18k white or rose gold. Onyx, diamonds, pink coral, and jade all all available as decorations on the pieces. The is certainly retro hearkening back to eras in the 20th century when luxury houses worked to emulate the decadent style of civilizations long past. This could easily be seen as some manner of Egyptian or Babylonian revival series. The Serpenti collection is a stylish and unabashedly bold luxury line from hopeful Bulgari - available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2009, bulgari, collection, serpent, serpenti, timepiece, watch

Boucheron Frog Ronde Seconde Folle Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The second watch of the new Boucheron Bestiary Ronde Second Folle collection is the Frog model, and it is even better than the Chameleon model in my opinion. Again you have two models - a more basic model and one with a pave diamond decoration and the frog's feet as well as a jeweled lily pad. Our friend the magenta amphibian is lackadaisical in demeanor with a silly yet satisfied look in his face. The complication of the seconds disc located as part of the frog's lower eye causes the pupil to spin as though the frog is constantly looking about. This is all part of the exclusive Girard Perregaux GP 4000 automatic movement made specially for Boucheron.

We don't know whether the frog is looking into the water and the sky is above him or vice versa with the frog looking into the sky from the water. Either way, the hand-done blue chalcedony over the white gold dial is a soft and artistic touch. The various colors of the frog and other elements combine diamonds, sapphires, and tsavorites. The watch case itself is 42mm wide in gray gold with a pink galuchat (stingray) strap.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: bestiary, boucheron, collection, frog, ronde, seconde folle, SecondeFolle, timepiece, watch

Vacheron Constantin Les Masques Watches: The Final Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is the third and final collection of "Les Masques" (the Masks) watches from Swiss watch maker Vacheron Constantin. The watches are in a limited edition of 25 sets, each with the four watches. My understanding is that you must get all four together. A few lucky people out there will have the entire collection of 12 Les Masques watches from all three collections. Each watch is 40mm wide and has a Vacheron Constantin in-house made automatic mechanical movement. The watches come in a different metal each including 18k yellow, pink, and white gold, as well as one watch in platinum.

For this collection the watches have been inspired from four new historic cultures. We have the pictured mask from China, as well as masks from Indonesia (Oceania), Gabon in Africa, as well as from Mexico. Each is done marvelously and by hand. The masks are incredibly hard to make taking a long time even from master craftspeople. Once a mistake is made, they often have to start all over again. Each watch has a different poem (in French) on the dial. Complications include the hours, minutes, date, and day - each displayed dia a disc visible on four corners of the watch. Really nice timepieces for those who connect with the emotion and history behind the masks and their respective cultures.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reivew site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Vacheron Constantin Les Masques Watches 2009

Tags: africa, china, collection, gabon, indonesia, les masques, LesMasques, masks, mexico, timepiece, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch

Alain Sauser 'Elements' Ladies Jewelery Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

These pretty watches remind me of some of the new Bertolucci women's timepieces, but that is just fine. This is the Elements Ladies collection (Water, Terre, and Feu watches) from Alain Sauser (isn't that an exemplar of luxury brand sounding names?!). The collection is part of a larger collection of timepieces that share the same type of case that is rendered in so many ways, with so many designs. I couldn't write about them all though. The concept of creating a line of watches for the elements is common, but this one really makes me see the inspiration in each. The water watch really looks like it should be in water, and you can see the cracked dirt in the Earth model. Not sure where the "Air" model is, somewhere flying around perhaps.

Each watch comes in a 38mm wide 18k white gold case with a bevy of applied jewels including 685 diamonds, and either sapphires, rubies and yellow sapphire, or brown and black diamonds. The jewels are each set by hand. Not sure, but I believe the watches have quartz movements. Dauphine hands complete the elegant look, and the straps are fun and friendly to go with the theme of each watch. Look for the Alain Sauser Elements Ladies Jewelry watches available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: alain sauser, AlainSauser, collection, elements, feu, ladies, lady, terre, timepieces, watch, water

Deal On Limited Edition Itay Noy City Square Piazza di San Pietro Watch Collection, May 8 - 15 Only

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is a good deal from Israeli luxury watch maker Itay Noy, in celebration of the Pope's pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel, or course) that will take place this year from May 8th through the 15th. During this time, you can get one of five Itay Noy City Square Collection Piazza di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) watches for $2,500 down from the standard price of $3,300. This is a significant discount, and apt for the occasion. I'll be the first to say that it is ironic that an Israeli brand is celebrating a Catholic event, but that event will take place in Israel - so it's all good.

The Itay Noy City Square Collection of watches is pretty cool. They take an aerial view map of an area, and turn it into a Google Maps like image for the dial of the watch. Looking at the dial, you are reminded of the region all the time. Saint Peter's square in the Vatican City within Rome, is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, and makes a great center for a watch face given its relative radial symmetry. The watch itself is 42.4mm wide in stainless steel all hand assembled with a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic mechanical movement inside. The Itay Noy City Square Piazza di San Pietro is part of a limited edition of just 99 watches, so this special offer is made even better by that fact. The $2,500 price is available only during May 8 - 15, 2009. To learn more or get your watch visit Itay Noy here.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: city square, CitySquare, collection, israel, itay noy, ItayNoy, piazza di san pietro, PiazzaDiSanPietro, saint peters square, SaintPetersSquare, sale, watch

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Gray Watch Line For 2009

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Please don't tell me that gray is the new black. Vacheron Constantin's new Overseas Gray watch at least wants to suggest that, and the slate colored look of the popular sports watch from the thankfully conservative watch brand seems to suggest just that. Having undergone but just a few minor tweaks over the past decade or so, the Overseas line of diver-themed watches from Vacheron Constantin is the watch to wear for those who like the idea and heritage behind the brand, but aren't too keen on the highly traditional looks of much of the watch line (and who, like me, are not into the design of the "experimental" Qaui de l'Ile watches).

Another way to look at the Overseas Gray watch is that it has been pulled from a black & white movie. The tonalities of the watch in its multi-shade monochromatic glory suggest just that. Can't you see picking this watch right out of a classic film before "glorious color" supplanted the days of forever noir. Accordingly, the Vacheron Constantin Gray is based on a design from 1933, which has been reinterpreted by the brand a few times over the ages.

Two versions of the 42mm gray nickel-coated 18k white gold cased watches are available. The three-hand and chronograph housing an automatic Vacheron Constantin caliber 1226 and 1137 respectively. The dial is a satin finish with white gold hands and hour indexes. The watch will come with a "mouse grey" alligator strap and a black rubber strap. Check for these new pieces of history soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2009, collection, gray, grey, overseas, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch

Cigar, Pipe Collectibles Gaining Momentum

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Smoking bans may ultimately keep cigar connoisseurs from buying that next lighter or cigar cutter, but there is a group – that may or may not smoke – that is buying cigar-related items aggressively. Collectors are being drawn to antique smoking-related items, even if their use has become less popular over the past several decades.

Pipes, ashtrays, cigar boxes and cigarette dispensers are on the list for this subculture. Others are drawn to packaging and advertising, scooping up old cigar bans, boxes of matches, in-store ads and other forms of "tobacciana." Some are even quite expensive.

So, when your kids get on your case about the stack of empty cigar boxes in the living room, just tell them that's how they'll get through college ... if they're lucky.

[Photo by Steve Zak]

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Tags: ashtray, ashtrays, cigar, cigar accessories, CigarAccessories, cigarette, cigarettes, cigars, collectible, collectibles, collecting, collection, collections, humidor, humidors, lighter, lighters, pipe, pipes

Ralph Lauren Watches Part 3: The Classic Slim Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is the last of the first collections for the newly unveiled Ralph Lauren watch brand. The Classic Slim collection here is very different from the Sporting or Stirrup collection, though they all share use of Roman numeral dials. The Classic Slim collection houses the very thin RL430 movement derived from Piaget, another company by joint parent the Richemont Group. This slim Ralph Lauren watch is only 5.35mm thick.

The most noticeable element of the Classic Slim collection watches is the beautiful use of guilloche engraving machine work on the dial and bezel. The 42mm 18k rose gold case and silvered dial each share similar engraving patterns. Guilloche work is often done by hand on very old machines that must be kept running, as new ones aren't manufactured often or any longer.

Style is similar to Breguet, complete with the engraving, broad Roman numerals, and pomme hands. It is a nice look from the brand that makes luxury sensible. The decorated, yet practical look of the Classic Slim watch works well with the demure logo. Around your wrist goes a dark-colored crocodile strap attached to lugs that appear just a bit too small, but enhance the roundness of the dial.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Classic Slim watch collection

Tags: classic slim, ClassicSlim, collection, polo, ralph lauren, RalphLauren, richemont, timepiece, watch

Ralph Lauren Watches Part 2: The Sporting Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

First for the new Ralph Lauren watch brand I discussed the Stirrup Collection. Featured here is the second line, the Sporting Collection. I commented on how the Stirrup Collection looked like a design melding between Cartier and Hermes; well the same is true here. True to its name, the Sporting Collection is more sporty then the Stirrup of Classic Slim collection. Six large screws keep the bezel looking strong, yet can pass for being functional if necessary. It's strong looks aren't aggressive looking though, which is nice as this watch says "I bathe horses for fun."

I am on the fence about the application of the Ralph Lauren logo, and whether I admire it or not. It is certainly retro, reminding you of a time when branding was less of an issue that it is today. The models come in three flavors. A subsidiary seconds model (the Classic) , the Chronograph, and the World Timer with power reserve. Metals are either steel or gold. Again, Richemont gives Ralph Lauren access to the parts bin, and the Sporting Collection features IWC mechanical movements such as the RL98295 for the world timer. My pick is the black-faced chronograph on the metal bracelet, that is a sure hit.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch Collection

Ralph Lauren Sporting Collection Chronograph watch

Ralph Lauren Sporting Collection Gold watch

Tags: collection, polo, ralph lauren, RalphLauren, richemont, sporting, timepiece, watch

Ralph Lauren Watches Part 1: The Stirrup Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As the luxury watch market feels the pressure from the economy on its shoulders, you wouldn't expect to see new brands popping up. Regardless, this partnership between Polo Ralph Lauren and the Richemont Group took seed before the economic hit really began and there was no stopping this seemingly immune connection of fashion and haute horology.

The new Equestrian line from Ralph Lauren is separated into three collections. The first of which is the aptly named "Stirrup Collection" due to the shape of the watch case. No, it isn't the tombstone collection. These are no mere fashion watches as can be seen from their unveiling at which occurred at the luxury watch show SIHH 2009. Richemont is the name behind many luxury brands, some of which the Ralph Lauren collection borrows from literally and thematically.

Inside the Ralph Lauren Stirrup collection watches are all Jaeger LeCoultre (Richemont owned) movements, such as the caliber RL750 in the power reserve version of the watch. The 18k rose gold case has a domed anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal, with a water-resistance of 30 meters. The watch designs look to me like a cross between Cartier (Richemont owned) and Hermes (not Richemont owned). Think of the Roman numbers (Cartier) and the shape of the case that looks like the Hermes lock-shaped watch. The stirrup collection is mounted on a wide crocodile band that is almost like a bund strap given how the lugs are attached. It's attractive and sober looking - just what the economy needs right now.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Stirrup Collection watch