Photo Report: The Vintage Watches And Rare Oddities Of The 2025 Original Miami Beach Antique Show
First covered on Hodinkee all the way back in 2013, the Original Miami Beach Antique Show has grown to be much more than your grandmother’s favorite antique show. Firmly written on the annual calendar of watch enthusiast events, the early-to-mid January show draws attendees and exhibitors from all over the world.
This is my third pilgrimage to the “Miami Show.” My first trip was back in 2020, but, most recently, I visited OMBAS three years ago, in 2022; time flies. While it may not seem like a long stretch of time, the show has changed quite a bit in recent years. Far more dealers and watch collectors are attending and it just might be the largest watch event in the U.S. Put simply, the Miami Antique show has long been “worth it” for a watch enthusiast, but that is becoming increasingly so, thanks to watch world personalities attending in droves and spreading the good word.
There are heaps of watches at the show, on offer from both dealers as well as random jewelry and antique proprietors, but, at the risk of sounding too sappy, this weekend is as much about the watch community coming together as it is about the buying and selling of watches. And by buying and selling, I mean, for most, gawking at what’s in the case, imagining how a Hodinkee editor could one day own a 1518.
Adam Golden of Menta Watches working his booth.
If I had to point to one person who is “making this all happen,” few attendees would argue with my calling out Adam Golden of Menta Watches. Golden, or simply “Menta” to many collectors, is based in Miami year-round. He has taken this local show and run with it. In partnership with Kiril of Lunar Oyster as well as Roy and Sasha of the Davidoff Brothers, he even hosts a good old-fashioned get-together on Friday night – open to anyone who registers with haste about a week ahead of time.
Beyond the Friday night event, look no further than Golden’s booth in the convention center for proof that this whole thing seems to orbit around him. It was absolutely jam-packed with watches, buyers, and spectators for five days straight. I had to make a point to arrive at the show immediately when it opened to photograph the Menta booth. Likely contributing to this traffic jam are his neighbors, the Davidoff Brothers, Mike Nouveau, and Tariq from Momentum Dubai, among others – a watch enthusiast’s murderer’s row of sorts within the extremely vast hall.
The glamorous Day-Dates and Datejusts of Momentum Dubai.
While those dealers are concentrated, elsewhere are names you might recognize like Davide Parmigiani’s Monaco Legends Group showcasing private sale inventory, Oliver & Clarke, Alfredo Paramico, Alan Bedwell of Foundwell, John Reardon of Collectability, Matthew Bain, Bob Maron, and more scattered throughout. It’s a who’s who of vintage watch sellers.
A 1969 Cartier London Maxi Oval with “oval link” bracelet. “Florence, a trip to remember with love Joe.” Courtesy of Monaco Legends Group.
I spent a lot of time inside the Miami Beach Convention Center, over 12 hours in total if I’m pressed to add it all up. There’s a lot of ground to cover. I quite enjoy strolling the “other side” of the show, away from most of the watches, but hanging around the booths of these legendary dealers is an education in both watch history and, frankly, watch sales. You see, many attendees are extremely watch-literate, but the show’s focus is much broader. The vast majority of the booths are offering other types of treasure. Gems, vintage jewelry, antique furniture, art, rare antique canes, and Russian-made sterling silver dinnerware all bring in different crowds.
For the purpose of Hodinkee.com, this is billed as a watch event, but it’s really not. It is what it says in the name: an antique show. What this means is that passersby and real buyers at the watch booths are refreshingly amazed and intrigued by watches that may seem “standard” to someone “in the watch world.” I saw Roy Davidoff walk a young couple through options, including a yellow gold Vacheron Constantin 222, stressing the outstanding condition and showing off the taught bracelet and a handful of vintage Cartier shapes. Amidst what is a somewhat hectic show, it was cool to see an expert start at the ground level and bring new people into his world.
Roy Davidoff of the Davidoff Brothers.
Similarly, at another booth, I overheard my favorite exchange of the weekend. A well-dressed man showed serious interest in a yellow-gold Rolex Paul Newman Daytona. The dealer explained the rarity of this particular dial type, black with “cherry” red “Daytona” text. When presented with the asking price, the man responded, in sincerity, “I’ll have to sell my 250 GTO first.” To which the dealer said, “You can drive that to dinner but you can’t wear it inside the restaurant.”
Enough of my war stories. Enjoy the photos highlighting some of the best watches I saw and random odd objects that caught my eye along the way.
The right side of that 1969 Cartier London Maxi Oval with “oval link” bracelet. Courtesy of Monaco Legends Group.
A Rolex Daytona Paul Newman ref. 6265 “Mystery Cross.” Courtesy of Monaco Legends Group.
Said “Mystery Cross.”
John Goldberger’s “most fascinating timepiece at the Miami antique show,” a Patek World Time pocket watch ref. 605HU with North American cloisonné enamel dial. Courtesy of Monaco Legends Group.
Malaika is going to Serpenti. A green enamel Bulgari Serpenti. Courtesy of Monaco Legends Group.
A 1948 Audemars Observatory-Style Precision with Valjoux 13VZAS inside and a 1930s AP Chronograph retailed by Gobbi-Milan. Courtesy of Menta Watches.
That gorgeous Valjoux 13VZAS.
Gobbi on the wrist.
Vintage Rolex. Courtesy of Menta Watches.
A passerby’s Patek ref. 1526J Perpetual Calendar at Menta’s booth.
Another Audemars Piguet, this one with a white gold case and diamond dial. Courtesy of Menta Watches.
With a great engraving as well.
More vintage Rolex. Courtesy of Menta Watches.
A Patek ref. 3563 in White Gold Retailed by Gübelin. Courtesy of Foundwell.
A Mauboussin purse watch. Courtesy of Foundwell.
Alfredo Paramico chatting to a few visitors about… Corum, that’s right, Corum.
A Theo Auffret Tourbillon à Paris. Not for sale. Courtesy of Alfredo Paramico.
An Oscar Waldan Chronograph with Triple Calendar. Courtesy of Alfredo Paramico.
An IWC Grande Complication in Platinum with Diamonds. Courtesy of Alfredo Paramico.
A Daniel Roth Grand Complication in White Gold on Alfredo’s wrist.
A break for some oddities.
Back to the watches.
Serpentis galore.
More.
A pair of Abercrombie Seafarers, both from the same original owner on Martha’s Vineyard. Courtesy of Jones & Horan.
It’s not all fancy dealers.
Friday night’s get-together at Walt Grace Vintage.
A Gerald Genta Sapphire Perpetual Calendar ref. G3459-5, a great party companion.
You know I had to sneak a Movado in here. A 1970s Movado.
John Goldberger in his 1920s Cartier Tank Normale in Platinum.
A Rolex Celebration Dial OP.
A Patek ref. 1450 “Top Hat” on the wrist of Very Special’s Juan Diego Lavelle.
A Patek ref. 570. Courtesy of Matthew Bain.
A selection of vintage sports Rolex. Courtesy of Matthew Bain.
More 222s, a mid-size ref. 46503/415 and a “Jumbo” ref. 44518/415 both factory gemset. Courtesy of the Davidoff Brothers.
A Piece Unique Harry Winston & FP Journe Opus One Chronometer Resonance. Courtesy of Lunar Oyster.
An attendee’s Breguet Triple Calendar Chronograph. Courtesy of Aubrey Thacker.
The case of TikTok’s Mike Nouveau.
A closeup on some nice integrated bracelet APs. Courtesy of Mike Nouveau.
And his latest, a Patek ref. 96 in steel. Courtesy of Mike Nouveau.
A rare Collectability item not made by Patek Philippe, a turn of the 19th century bird box in the shape of a rhino.
A box of Patek Ellipses. Courtesy of Collectability.
A Patek ref. 3970 with integrated bracelet and a Patek ref. 1518. Courtesy of Collectability.
A box of Patek Calatravas. Courtesy of Collectability.
John Reardon’s latest buy, a Patek “Nautilipse” ref. 3770, on top of Gerald Genta’s original painting of the model.
Bob Maron.
A smattering of vintage. Courtesy of Bob Maron.
Vintage Rolex. Courtesy of Bob Maron.
A Cartier Mystery Clock.
A Dunhill purse watch.
A Jaeger-LeCoultre desk clock.
Hodinkee
