What is an auctioneer, something we often hear about in luxury watch news?

2022.05.13

Q: What is the auctioneer that we hear about so often these days?

The word "auctioneer" is often heard when buying and selling expensive watches. In Japanese, it means "auctioneer," but what exactly does an auctioneer do?

Masayuki Hirota

Article published on June 2022, 5


A: The person who manages the auction and decides the winning bidder is the auctioneer.

 The word "auctioneer" is often heard when buying and selling expensive watches. In Japanese, it means "auctioneer." As the name suggests, an auctioneer is someone who manages an auction at an auction company and decides on the winning bidder. They are not yet well known in Japan, but looking around the world, there are many well-known auctioneers. In addition, auctioneers have recently become prominent in the world of watch auctions. Aurel Bacs of Phillips is one such auctioneer.

 However, being an auctioneer requires more than just the skills of an average expert. After gathering items suitable for the auction, you must accurately evaluate them and determine the expected winning price, and then contact potential bidders. In other words, it is a job that requires not only specialized knowledge, but also an eye for market prices and extensive connections. Given this background, it is not surprising that those who have worked as auctioneers are often invited to work for watch manufacturers and become active in the media.

Aurel Bax

Aurel Bacs (pictured right) of Phillips is a world-famous auctioneer who was the auctioneer when the Rolex Daytona with the so-called "Paul Newman Dial" (Ref. 6239), previously owned by actor Paul Newman, was sold for over 17 billion yen in 2017.

 If you are interested in watch auctions, it would be wise to pay attention to the names of the auctioneers. A good auctioneer will collect great watches, and if their tastes match yours, it won't be difficult to expand your collection.


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