Auctions: Our Favorite Lots From This Weekend’s Monaco Legend Auction
I never thought I’d be picking a gem-set ’40s Omega as a top lot but here we are, and it’s a watch that’s well worth it. For this platinum oversize (37.5mm) chronometer from 1948, the movement alone is important. The 30 SC T2 RG (RG for regulation) beat record after record at the Neuchâtel, Geneva, and Kew Observatory Contests and was known as one of the all-time greats in accuracy. The dial is also incredibly rare – while a number of manufacturers used diamond hour markers on silver dials, the use of double emeralds here at three, six, nine, and 12 is unusual and possibly unique. “I think it’s most definitely a special order,” said Parmegiani. “I think they were doing this to compete against more expensive brands. The brands used emeralds for very special watches.” He ran me through a list, from a Patek he owns to a famous Rolex and a Cartier Tank a Guichet with emerald cabochon. They’re incredibly, incredibly special pieces and the estimate is €150,000 – 300,000.