Collector’s watches

WATCHES

The market for collectible watches: a constantly evolving market popular with enthusiasts and investors alike

Since the 1980s, the market for collectible watches has continued to evolve, attracting more and more enthusiasts, collectors and investors. From diving watches to dress watches, from tool watches to watches with complications, watch collectors are becoming increasingly erudite and specialized. More than just instruments for measuring time, watches are now objects of desire and heritage. Rare and exceptional pieces, and iconic models such as the Rolex Daytona, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, or the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, are particularly sought-after, both for their historical value and their investment potential.

Watch appraisals, auctions and personalized advice

Within Tajan’s Horlogerie department, a team of passionate experts will accompany you through the free and confidential appraisal of your watches, right up to their sale at auction. The team is made up of Victoire Winckler, Department Manager, Brieuc de Saint-Ours, Manager, and Géraldine Richard, SFEP Expert.

Thanks to our expertise, Tajan has been distinguished by several remarkable sales of rare watches, and major auctions such as:

Our Watches department organizes 5 or 6 auctions of collector’s watches a year, preceded by an exhibition at Tajan

Our auctions are divided into two categories:

Collector’s Watches: Auction of prestigious timepieces, with an exhibition in our Art Deco room in Paris, in the presence of an auctioneer.
Watches Online: Auction of an eclectic selection of collector’s watches at more affordable prices.

We are looking for watches from leading watchmakers

We are constantly on the lookout for luxury watches from the great watchmaking houses, such as: Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Breguet, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Boucheron, Omega, A. Lange & Söhne. We are also looking for watches from independent watchmakers such as F.P. Journe, Philippe Dufour, and Laurent Ferrier.

Our interest covers a wide range of models: men’s or ladies’ wristwatches, in gold or steel, diving watches, chronograph watches, extra-flat watches, watches with complications, as well as pocket watches, onion watches, carriage watches and clocks.

Limited series watches and historical provenance

We pay particular attention to watches in limited series or pieces with a unique historical provenance. Tajan sold a Rolex Comex Sea-Dweller. Ref. 16660 Dite “Triple 6” for €132,000, as well as a Patek Philippe “Chantecler” pocket watch with a bowl dedicated to Constant Coquelin, the famous actor in Edmond Rostand’s play Chantecler, for around €12,000. More recently, in December 2024, a specially commissioned Piaget asymmetrical in yellow gold and onyx sold at Tajan for nearly €40,000.

This result confirms the market trend towards dress watches with integrated gold bracelets, often with hard stone dials: lapis, tiger’s eye, onyx, jade, malachite…

How to have your watch appraised and sold at auction?

To have your watches appraised and receive a free estimate, you have several options:

-Call us on +33 1 53 30 30 50 or book an appointment by email at [email protected]
–Fill in our online estimate form and send us photos by clicking HERE
-Our experts also travel throughout France and Europe in collaboration with our local correspondents. Click HERE for more information

We invite you to discover our auctions and take part in this exciting market for collector’s watches.

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