AuctionsMar 20, 2024
Vintage Baume & Mercier Gifted by Elvis Going Up for AuctionAuctionsApr 08, 2024
Sotheby’s ‘Rough Diamonds’ Sale Is All About … Watches
The auction will take place Thursday and is underground, literally.
This 18-karat gold and citrine Jaeger-LeCoultre Ref. 7295 pinky-ring watch dates to 1953 and is one of 24 lots being offered in Sotheby’s upcoming “Rough Diamonds” watch auction. The watches will be on display in Geneva Monday through Wednesday, with the sale slated to take place Thursday.
Geneva—Today in Geneva, two dozen vintage watches that Sotheby’s describes as “avant-garde and overlooked” will go on display ahead of a live auction later this week.
The “Rough Diamonds” sale features bejeweled, unusually shaped, and car-themed timepieces from brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Piaget.
There’s a Corum watch that looks like the grill of a Rolls-Royce from 1980, the circa 1975 Chopard exploding with color (and with a hydrogrossular garnet dial), and the pinky-ring watch from Jaeger-LeCoultre from 1953 that screams mob-wife aesthetic, seen at top of article.
SEE: 5 of the Watches in “Rough Diamonds”
The “Rough Diamonds” sale features bejeweled, unusually shaped, and car-themed timepieces from brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Piaget.
There’s a Corum watch that looks like the grill of a Rolls-Royce from 1980, the circa 1975 Chopard exploding with color (and with a hydrogrossular garnet dial), and the pinky-ring watch from Jaeger-LeCoultre from 1953 that screams mob-wife aesthetic, seen at top of article.
SEE: 5 of the Watches in “Rough Diamonds”
Designed by Jacqueline Dimier, this car-shaped, white gold, diamond and emerald Audemars Piguet is from 1995. It’s estimated to sell for CHF 40,000 to 80,000 ($44,180 to $88,382).
This Patek Philippe ring-watch-necklace set designed by Gilbert Albert circa 1962 is yellow gold set with enamel and pearls. The estimated sale price for the suite is CHF 30,000 to 50,000. ($33,150 to $55,253).
This Corum Rolls-Royce watch, Ref. 55585, is expected to sell for CHF 5,000 to 10,000 ($5,525 to $11,051). Corum sold this watch as a limited-edition timepiece starting in 1990, making just 60 a year.
Piaget made this yellow gold, lapis lazuli, and jade bracelet watch in 1970. It is expected to sell for CHF 20,000 to 30,000 ($22,101 to $33,151).
Audemars Piguet came out with the “Cobra Khanjar” one year before it debuted the “Royal Oak,” with its mesh, serpent-like fully integrated bracelet inspiring the name. This circa 1985 Cobra is estimated to sell for CHF 50,000 to CHF 100,000 ($55,254 to $110,511).
Sotheby’s organized the auction in collaboration with heist-out, a “watch and creative collective” that did something truly original last year—it launched a print magazine.
Commenting on the auction, heist-out co-founders Maxime Couturier and Lorenzo Maillard said, “In an industry where each new release often melds into the next, it is invigorating to pay homage to the trailblazers of yesteryear and affirm that audacity has always been pivotal in shaping watch design.”
The public exhibition for Rough Diamonds will take place Monday through Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. CEST underground, literally.
The watches are on display in the wine cellar at La Corne à Vin, 47 Rue de Lausanne, Geneva.
The auction also will take place in the wine cellar, at 6 p.m. CEST on Thursday.
Bidders can participate in person, on the phone, or online via the Sotheby’s website.
To see all the watches in the auction, visit Sothebys.com.
The Latest
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Ukrainian Jewelers Highlighted In New Book“Ukrainian Jewelry | Contemporary Jewelry and Art Jewelry from Ukraine” features 33 contemporary Ukrainian designers and studios.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Fope’s New Jewelry Debuts Are Golden“The Golden Now” campaign celebrates the here and now with the brand’s signature styles and a selection of its new pieces.
MajorsApr 06, 2026
Kecia Caffie, Corinne Bentzen No Longer With Signet JewelersSignet confirmed that Caffie, president of Zales and Banter, and Bentzen, who headed Blue Nile, have left the company.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Historian Tanzy Ward Pens Book on Black Victorians’ JewelryThe antique jewelry dealer talks about the importance of including Black Americans in jewelry history and preserving their stories.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingApr 06, 2026
Gemfields Reports $51M Loss in 2025Both its mines faced challenges last year, from operational issues to disruptions in the market.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
