Chapter II: Watches (with Geoff Hess and Mike Nouveau)

“Watches don’t just tell time.” – Geoff Hess

In this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re delving into the world of watches with the Global Head of Watches at Sotheby’s and RollieFest founder, Geoff Hess, and vintage watch specialist, Mike Nouveau. Geoff and Mike take us behind the scenes of auction houses, share stories of their treasure hunting, explain why “investment” used to be a dirty word in watch collecting circles, and discuss how watches don’t just tell time, they bring people together. 

1:37 – Timepiece show-and-tell

2:10 – First obsessions

5:09 – Passion vs. investment

7:37 – Inside the auction room

13:31 – Industry education, from forums to social media

14:53 – Holy Grail watches

21:15 – The next trends in collecting

22:39 – Connecting with people from around the world, like @oldwatchlady

Watches featured in this episode include Les Folies du Ciel by Hermès, Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 96 in steel from 1941, Rolex GMT-Master Reference 1675, a, 6263 vintage Paul Newman Dial Daytona, a bamboo Cartier Coussin, and a Rolex 5508 from 1958. 

Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about how Cartier and the Wright brothers were part of the advent of the wristwatch.

For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.

À bientôt!

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