Phillips Record Breaking Watch Auction Demonstrates the Rich Remain Rich.

 

If the record breaks g stock market gains weren't convincing enough that the end is nowhere near nigh, the auction market should be good evidence of it.  Phillips recent watch auction in the Hotel President in Geneva on May 9 and 10 2026 broke all records, selling 224 of 225 lots, and $96.3 million in sales. 

In particular, 43 world records were broken, including Patek's setting higher benchmarks than ever, F.P Journe demonstrating its significance to the collectors market, and even independent brands such as Akrivia which pulled in £2.86 million for a AK-06 reference.

According to Aurel Bacs and Livia Russo, consultants in the watch collecting and art collecting worlds, watches are now alongside fine art, jewellery, and rare cars, in respect of collectibles.  We're not convinced, but it's definitely impressive, and certainly shows that if the drain is being circled, there's clearly a great deal of water left in the sink.

Sotherby's Hermes Bag Sale demonstrates collectable market remains lucrative

F Scott Fitzgerald never said "the Rich are different from us", and Ernest Hemingway didn't reply, "yes they have more money".   This often referenced fictional exchange is best exemplified in no other market than art and collectibles.  Things of no other value than what those are willing to pay for them.

For some time now second hand fashion items have comprised part of the collectibles market, and this met it's final boss so to speak at auction in Sotherby's New York on 10 July 2025 for $10 million.

There's little to say on this.  Item's like this selling in this manner transcend concepts of value, and clearly represent something other than supply or demand.  Another example being the Leonardo Da Vinci Salvatore Mundi painting which was bought by the leader of Saudi Arabia for $450 million, who then gave it as a gift to the leader of the United Arab Emirates.  All while the provenance of the work remains in question.  

These sales and purchases, they transmit power, dominance, and ownership. They display wealth, and move money around in ways that aren't possible by other vehicles.  Or allow for tax write offs.  In the case of this handbag, it was purchased by Valuance Japan, a luxury goods reseller.  The purpose here is therefore quite clear.  A signal of Valuance's importance, free advertising drawing consumers to them, while simultaneously increasing the overall value of the second hand handbag market.

 

One of a kind Gerald Charles sells at Christie for $120,000.

We rarely write about auctions, as frankly they're normally pretty dull.  When we do it's only when there's a combination of an unusual piece and record breaking or unreasonable price being met.  The Gerald Charles watch sold at Christies rare Watches auction on May 12 2025 meets both these criteria.

The piece itself is a one of a kind edition of the brands GC39 Remaster.  The watch sells in steel for $38,000, and this version in titanium has a unique opal dial.  Movie fans will remember an opal featured in Uncut Gems a few years ago.  In the film Kevin Garnett was captivated by the way light played through the stone.  This dial demonstrates all this beauty on top of a jumping hours complication.  The real personal touch is the winning buyer will have their initials engraved on the back of the case.

As for the sale price?  The watch was predicted to sell for  $47,000, a bit over the price a steel model goes for, however, the hammer price was $120,000, almost three times the pre-auction estimate.  

The buyer's anonymous, and apparently the proceeds will go to a children's charity that helps children digital lives.  Difficult to know what that means, and obviously if someone really wanted to help they shouldn't need to get a luxury watch in exchange for doing so.  However one things for certain in respect of what this sale shows, at a certain level of the economy the cost of living crisis doesn't appear to exist. 

 

Louis Vutton Demonstrate They are Either Very Late or Very Early to the NFT game with the VIA Collection.

 

Anyone who has not been living under a rock for the last 20 years knows what cryptocurrency is.  NFT's are a little more niche, but even the mainstream media discussed these over the past few years, with gushing interviews where Paris Hilton and Justin Beiber spoke about their Bored Ape's, and auctions of these digital art pieces went for many millions of dollars online, and in the real world at Sotherby's and Christies. 

However, while cryptocurrency appears to still have some utility, with its market retaining more than $2.5 trillion, NFT's are beginning to become regarded as worthless.  For example, the Bored Ape NFT Justin Beiber paid $3 million for, was worth less than $53,000 in mid 2023.  It seems that LVMH didn't get the memo however, and they've launched their own "digital collectibles".

Beginning with the VIA Treasure Trunk for €39,000, owners of this will get the "opportunity" to get other digital collectibles, like the VIA Varsity Jacket, which is from Pharrel's new Spring Summer 2024 collection.  Except you cant wear it, use it, or resell it like the actual garment, and it costs €7,900.

We are not fans of NFT's, and don't see the point of them.  Unlike cryptocurrency which has some purpose, NFT's main purpose is to separate people from their money in pursuit of the greater fool theory.  The market appears to have reflected this, with the NFT bubble bursting so fast it made tulipmania look like a sensible long-term investing strategy.  It's unsurprising LVMH have jumped on the bandwagon therefore, as they increasingly seem interested in a quick buck, and good taste be damned.  It is however a bit curious why they jumped on so late.  

Or early?  Who knows!  Maybe the "genius" behind this at LVMH is super ahead of the the next NFT bubble?  Or maybe the "quality" that is the brand will reinvigorate the whole NFT market?  Maybe.  But we doubt it.

Salvatore Garau's Non-Existent "Io Sono", Huge Joke Or Serious Statment?

Salvatore Garau has caused quite the controversy by reportedly selling a sculpture which does not exist.  The Italian artist attempted to retail an immaterial sculpture last month, titled "Buddha in Contemplation", however that did not attract as much attention as the latest "Io Sono", which apparently sold for $18,000.

In a statement to Newsweek on the non-existent sculpture Garau said that the sculpture exists "in a vacuum", saying "The vacuum is nothing more than a space full of energy, and even if we empty it and there is nothing left according to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle that, 'nothing' has a weight. Therefore it has energy which is condensed and transformed into particles, that is, into us".  Additionally Garau gave instructions on how to display the piece, saying that it should be displayed in a 5ft by 5ft square in a private space without artificial light or air conditioning.  

As might well be expected, this has created a slew of commentary, however, it is likely that was the purpose.  It is highly probable that Garau, like many if not all artists observed the rise and proliferation of NFT art, and decided that it is creating in effect an "emperors new clothes" effect in the art world.  Garau is the first artist to have the gumption to publicly create a piece that makes a statement on this without directly criticising NFT art, and we applaud Garau in this bold move.  

We question indeed whether the work was bought at all in truth, and if rather this was a publicity stunt to draw attention to this dry, and insightful, criticism of the new direction art has been dragged towards over the last 12 months.  We believe that such a move would be justified and appropriate in conveying this important message.

 

Banksy Looses Copyright Claim Due To Anonymity and Comments - May Lead To Revealing Identity

 

In a stark demonstration of needing to be careful what you say and do, the "anonymous" street artist Banksy has lost a copyright battle in the European Union based partly on anonymity, and partly on previous comments made.

The work in question Banksy was concerned about was Laugh Now, a mural of a monkey wearing a sandwich board saying "laugh now but one day we'll be in charge.   Full Colour Black, a company which calls itself a "contemporary Art Licensing company specialising in the commercialisation of world famous street art", appropriated the image for a greeting card with a monkey wearing a sandwich board saying "very little helps".  

Banksy's company Pest Control were unhappy with this, and decided to take action, taking the case to the European Union Intellectual Property Office.  On 19/05/21 the EUIPO ruled against Banksy and Pest Control, citing a number of factors for the decision.

First, the nature of graffiti, it being sprayed in a public place, free to be photographed by the general public and disseminated widely, was a strong argument Full Colour Black made.  Perhaps in isolation this may have been able to be defeated by the now highly commercial nature of Banksy's work, however, Banksy's anonymity also provided a support to the argument that the work was not entitled to protection.  As the court found that by choosing to be anonymous protecting a piece of art would not be possible.  

However, perhaps the strongest argument that Banksy's work should not be protected by intellectual property laws is Banksy's own words.  In Banksy's 2007 book Wall and Piece, Banksy remarked that "copyright is for losers'.  A comment which the court made explicit note of in its judgement, stating that "the street artist explicitly stated that the public is morally and legally free to reproduce, amend and otherwise use and copyright works".

The concern for Banksy following such a ruling is the effect it will have on other works of his.  However, it bears remembering that many have figured out the artists identity, and so the only remaining block to copyright protection is this being confirmed by the artist.  It is our opinion that since Banksy has been minded to take action, and failed to protect copyright anonymously, it will not be long before the enigma is solved and his identity will be revealed to prevent loss of all the works created

MSCHF Chanel No.5 Axe Release.

 

The bleeding edge cool marketing brand MSCHF has produced an amusing take on Chanel No.5's most iconic fragrance, by producing a fake "collab" of it mixed with Axe, the body spray synonymous with stale locker rooms worldwide.

The product cleverly picks fun at Chanel's high-minded intentions by bringing it down to earth, refilling the finely crafted glass flacon with Axe body spray, and painstakingly producing a logo which looks exactly what we would expect in the event that such a product were to ever really exist.

We think that in times where consumerism is getting out of hand, and brands such as Louis Vuitton are solely interested in profit, making products like luxury face masks for $1,000 when many healthcare workers are forced to work on the front line of a global pandemic without adequate protection, having the mickey taken out of us as luxury consumers is essential.

The product sold out in less than 10 minutes, so sign up for MSCHF's app if you don't want to miss out on releases like this in the future.

Karl Largerfeld In Berlin Exhibition.

The art world is full of charming stories and daring feats that made works possible, and the new photography exhibition from German photographer Daniel Biskup has just such a tale.  According to Biskup, back in 2002 when Karl Largerfeld was visiting Berlin for a pop-up exhibition of his own works, Biskup boldly decided to try his luck at getting candid shots of Chanel's late creative director. He bought a long black cashmere trench and a black Gucci shirt gatecrashed the opening, and despite Largerfeld saying no photos, strode up to him and asked if he could make some portraits.  Largerfeld looked him up and down, and told him to come when the show finished.

At 10am Biskup returned, and with a security team carting Pepsi Light, Largerfeld's favourite drink, in tow, wandered around the streets and subway stations of Berlin till 3am, taking never seen before intimate portraits of Largerfeld.

In honour of Largerfeld's hotel of choice when in Berlin, the Hotel du Rome, Biskup is holding a show of 40 images, prior to the worldwide launch of a coffee table book with the same title as the exhibition, 'Karl Lagerfeld in Berlin.  The exhibition is running from February 20 to May 20. 

Beats Graff Diamond, Ruby & Platinum Headphones.

Created in 2012 for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, these headphones feature 126.76 carats of Graff diamonds and rubies, and are mounted in platinum, and a Graff certificate of authenticity.  Worn by Madonna, LMFAI and Lil Wayne, they are available to buy from 1dibs, the luxury online marketplace for $750,000, or £575,000.

Or you can "make an offer".  There's a button underneath the "purchase" that will allow you to make an offer on these one-of-a-kind headphones.  Strangely, these offer good value, the retail value of the gems alone is more than the price of the materials that go into making these headphones, and since they are a collectible, the value may increase.

So if you have  half a million spare, drop and offer in, you might be lucky.

StockX Rolex Daytona 116500 For "Only" Retail Price Sweepstake.

Hot on the heels of yesterdays flash Saatch Boxing Day sale comes another limited offer that is only going to be in existence for the next 24 hours.  Stockx are offering the chance to enter a sweepstake that can let you win the Rolex Daytona 116500 model for the retail price.

Now, to some this may seem a bit odd, Rolex's are not cheap after all, and "winning" the chance to pay full retail, which is $12,400, seems somewhat, mean?  Bit when you consider that the is a waiting list of 3 years, and that the resale value is a whopping 60% more than the asking price, the value of this prize begins to become a little clearer.

Those who are desperate to get their hand on one will praise the heavens for the chance to not need to wait 3 years, and those who are interested in money, well, they will have made themselves a cool $7,500, as resale prices are well in excess of $20,000.

The catch? it's only open to legal residents of the United States to the District of Columbia.  If that's you, and you're reading this before 11:59PM EDT on December 28th 2019, get over to stockx for the chance to either save time, or make money.

Saatchi Art 15% Boxing Day Flash Sale.

If you've ever wanted to pick up some decent art for your walls, now might be the time, as Saatchi Art are holding a flash sale today, Boxing Day, which started at 08:00am 26th December, and will end at 08:00 27th December.

This isn't the first time that Saatchi Art have held such a sale, and as with the events held in February, and June 2019, the discount is 15% on originals and limited edition's above $1,000, or £1000 in the UK.

The questions of devaluing art will no doubt be rolled out once again, as this "bargain basement" approach can only have a negative effect on the market.  However, this aside, if you want a bargain, head over to www.saatchiart.com, and enter the coupon code BOXINGDAY2019 at the checkout stage for a 15% discount.

CASE STUDYO "The Midas Touch"

Echoing the 2018 "Touch Of Mercury" Sculpture, Case Studyo and Hajime Sorayama are this time giving the middle finger, both figuratively and literally.   Text from the site gives this:

When Sorayama and Case Studyo collide, exquisite mastery is forged. With this edition the Japanese master revisits his 2018 collaboration  ‘A Touch Of Mercury’, using the most precious of metals to deliver a raw and powerful statement. ‘The Midas Touch’ not only explores the relationship between artist and audience, but also delves into the intimate and complicated relationship of creator and creation. The sculpture’s obscene gesture constitutes a small revolt and playfully touches on the fear of an inevitable clash between man and machine. Sorayama’s sexy robot seems to have turned against its creator and reminds us all that technology can be tantalizingly beautiful but also ruthlessly cold…
Such a cold finger
Beckoning you to enter its web of sin
But don’t go in…

The piece is 33cm. high, and is limited to 100 numbered editions, and comes in a custom made wood box with foil print, each edition is also signed by Hajime Sorayama himself.

Pricing is not available online, as Case Studyo must be contacted personally in order to purchase an edition, but people are bidding up to £3,500 for it in stockx.com, and the 2018 Touch If Mercury has been auctioned off for as high as £8,500.

Daniel Jacobs Nike Jordan 1's.

Daniel Jacob's has up to this point been known mostly for create "art sculptures".  These new Nike Air Jordan 1's are an example.  Originally made in 2016 for the Market Art & Design show in the Hamptons,  the artist has decided to release a them in made to order form to be purchased by consumers.

By logging on to www.thedanlife.com, you can order a pair of gold Nike Air Jordan 1's, hand embellished with 140,000 Swarovski crystals.  

There is only one of these that will ever be made, and they cost £5,300.  Bt they exist, and are there if you want them

Saturdays NYC Tim Barber New Blue's Tee's And Poster.

Following a meeting in Japan between Colin Tunstall, co-founder of Saturdays NYC and photographer, designer and curator Tim Barber, Saturdays NYC have created a capsule collection of long and short sleeved tees, two of each, with Tim Barber's "New Blues" series.  

This exclusive release is the only collaboration featuring Barbers new photographic project, which Barber started in 2015 with project I.  The Saturdays series uses the Tongue Out, Rose, Frogs and Dead End images.

Each long and short sleeved tee is available exclusively online, costing £50 and £65 respectively.  Also available for £30 is a print as a poster, and a 72 page zine with all the images from the New Blue's series.

Designed By Apple In California Coffee Table Book.

Some may say Apple releasing a coffee table book is another step towards the tech giant becoming even more design oriented.  But the reality is, Apple has ever since Steve Jobs resurrected them with Jony Ive, an almost purely design oriented firm.  This picture book is far from a "next stage", it is merely an inevitability, and in fact, it's more of a surprise that it took so long for one of these to be released.

Chronicling 20 years of Apple's designs. from the 1998 iMac to the Apple Pencil in 2015, they feature 450 glossy photographs shot by photographer Andrew Zuckerman in a minimalist style that echoes Apple stores the world over.

Available in two versions, large and small, it can be purchased now, with the small version costing £150, and the large £250.

Acne Studios Jack Pierson Collection.

In collaboration with artist Jack Pierson, Acne Studios are releasing a small capsule collection of leather goods.  Inspired by the installations, drawings, paintings and photographs that made his name in the 1980's, the capsule contains a limited number of pieces.

100 leather pouches in red, black, blue, white and dark grey, each debossed with different Pierson artworks from Pierson's "Caught in the rain broken in the stardust" exhibition catalog in 1994, Acne Studious also produced 100 second editions of the original exhibition catalog, which come with numbered certification of approval signed by the artist.  One copy will be included with each pouch

Available now from Dover Street Market London and Acne Studious webstore, each pouch costs £370.

Alexander Mcqueen Human Skin Leather Jackets.

The most unusual story in the fashion world in the last 7 days is Alexander Mcqueen's DNA being used to grow human skin and make leather jackets.  Tina Gorjanc, a student at Central Saint Martins, has somehow acquired a piece of Alexander Mcqueen's hair, from which she grew in a lab human skin.  From this, Gorjanc has produced leather, which she has exhibited for her show.

Gorjanc has added tattoos, moles and freckles, to give the collection, known as "pure human" a more human element.  The purpose apparently is to illustrate the fact that DNA has little to no protection, and that corporations of the future will likely utilise this if no protections are added.  In this case, the Mcquuen brand fully supported Gorjanc's creation.

However, these items cannot be purchased, being only for display in the Central Saint Martins gallery.

Nancy Gonzales Kaws Collaboration.

Nancy Gonzalez is not a name you would expect to see associated with street art, pretty far from it in fact, the ultra high end women's accessories brand not only specialises in, but in fact exclusively produces, exotic leather pieces, meaning that with prices starting from £400 for the smallest bag charm, it couldn't be further from the grimy DIY aesthetic of street art.

This collaboration between Golzalez and KAWS, a street art mainstay, could either be considered a breath of fresh air, or a total sell out on behalf of both names, depending on your point of view. 

Like it or not though, it happened, and Gonzalez has produced a flashy shiny crocodile collection of bags and clutches all with KAWS trademark double X.  The collection is available now with prices starting from £1,400.

The Macallan Peerless Spirit.

From The Macallan comes a new ultra premium whisky.  It being the case that the collectible drinks market is frequently outperforming the stock market, and Macallan repeatedly breaks auction records, this is certain to be snapped up whatever the cost.

Containing a 65 year old spirit which gives the bottle its title "the peerless spirit", it is said to have intense wood, spice, and spiralling smoke notes.  Housed in a crystal Lalique decanter, and presented in a stunning presentation box, the £28,000 price tag is sure to yield an excellent return in the years to come, unless of course you want to drink it!

Remy Martin Louis XIII L'Odyssee D'Un Roi.

From four venerable french luxury houses comes L'Odyssee D'Un Roi.  With a hand crafted travelling bar case from Hermes, a Decanter and glasses from Saint'Louis, and a white gold collar from Puiforcat, the precious Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac makes the final ingredient, and brings all the houses together to commemorate the journey of the precious liquid through the ages.

This is not a product that will be on general sale.  The stunning limited editions of three will be auctioned off at Sotherby's. the proceeds of which benefitting Martin Scorcese's Film Foundation.