80 November 2019_Esquire
Watches of the YearROLEX GMT-MASTER II
Often it’s the simple things that
please the most. The GMT-Master II has a
separate twenty-four-hour hand that
can be read off the bezel and reset using the
crown, jumping easily from hour to
hour in either direction independent of the
minute and hour hands. But then there’s
also a new movement, the high-visibility dial,
the high-grade 904 L stainless steel—
known as Oystersteel—used for the case and
Jubilee band, and the distinctive black-
and-blue ceramic bezel on this year’s model that
prompted Rolex fans to nickname it the
Batman. What’s not to like? $9,250; rolex.comP
erhaps you picture a bunch
of sniffy, monocled men
waving paddles. And, well,
eyewear aside, there is some
of that. One could say the spectacle
is part of the point: the thrill of see-
ing six- and seven-figure pieces of
wrist jewelry going once and twice
in an equally resplendent room.
But for those of us who wouldn’t
feel at home in a stateroom on the
Titanic, Rebecca Ross of Christie’s
says that modern auctions are far
more accommodating to newbies
than one might expect. Did you
know, for instance, that they’re
open to the public? “They can
seem intimidating, but I’d encour-
age everyone to come in and watch
one—they’re really entertaining.”
But if that’s too much an ask, the
bidding has gone online as well,
with more-affordable lots for first-
time bidders. And even the remote
auctions can have an in-person el-
ement. “I like to get to know cli-
ents and see what they want,” Ross
says. She also says it’s a good op-
portunity to try on some watches.
But ultimately, auction houses re-
main the best places to find pieces
with provenance—the December
live sale at Christie’s will include,
among other rarities, a pocket
watch once belonging to Ernest
Hemingway. So check it out: Be
a wallflower, drink in the ambi-
ence, and get the lay of the land.
—Dennis Tang
Pony Up
at the Auction
ONLINE OR IRL, IT’S
MORE AFFORDABLE THAN
YOU MIGHT THINK2