The year of 2026 is upon us, but it’s worth pausing to look at some of the great and atrocious things which sold. This episode covers a state of the market through a review of the entire year at auctions, noting specific examples. Erik & Max discuss watches that they wish they’d had the funds to buy, opportunities missed, problem watches/things they’d stay away from, value buys, unreasonable results, and our wildcards. Plus, an Only Wrist for the most significant chronographs of all time. 

Links Mentioned:

Watches We Wish We’d Had the Funds to Buy:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/heuer/191665

https://www.phillips.com/detail/philippe-dufour/226566

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/224005

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-38/lot-67

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-2/reference-6538-submariner-big-crown-james-bond-a

https://www.phillips.com/detail/voutilainen/223968

https://www.alange-soehne.com/us-en/timepieces/lange-1/little-lange-1/little-lange-1-in-750-white-gold-181-038

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-3/reference-2438-1-a-yellow-gold-perpetual-calendar

Opportunities We Missed:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6534101

https://www.phillips.com/detail/piaget/224987

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-38/lot-70

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6534094

https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/216658

https://www.phillips.com/detail/audemars-piguet/213832

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-2/reference-ba-145-022-69-speedmaster-gus-grissom-a

Problem Watches:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/216213

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-36/lot-25

https://www.phillips.com/detail/audemars-piguet/216432

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-38/lot-48

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6558481

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6567932

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-part-i-ge2501/reference-6034-a-pink-gold-chronograph-wristwatch

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6567913

https://www.phillips.com/detail/jaeger-le-coultre/225242

Values:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/vacheron-constantin/223633

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-38/lot-7

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/fine-watches-6/reference-3147-carrera-dato-45-a-stainless-steel

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-2/reference-404-032-saxonia-double-split-a-pink-gold

https://www.phillips.com/detail/breguet/210819

Unreasonable Numbers:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/224435

https://hairspring.com/products/3941j-perpetual-calendar-dore-dial-early-second-series-yellow-gold

https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/224804

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-2/octa-chronograph-ruthenium-a-limited-edition

Wildcard:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-3/reference-3945-dore-a-yellow-gold-perpetual

https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-36/lot-237

https://flightbirds.net/publio-magini-the-sistema-magini/ (History of the Magini Trip)

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-2/reference-6100-dragon-an-exquisite-and-rare-yellow

Only Wrist:

https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/5970r-patek-philippe-perpetual-calendar-chronograph-pink-gold

https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/2915-2-omega-speedmaster-steel

https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/saatchi-5070p-patek-philippe-chronograph