Weekly Wind Down | Sales Highlights including watches from Louis Vuitton, Omega & Patek Philippe

Louis Vuitton is serious about elevating its status in the world of high horology. The fashion house has made some major moves in recent years, including the acquisition of an R&D atelier called La Fabrique du Temps, and more recently the appointment of Jean Arnault to the helm, the son of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault. It also created the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize which highlights new independent watchmakers and positions LV amongst the industry’s trailblazers. 

Last year the brand launched the new Tambour, delivering its own version of the integrated bracelet sports watch, a red-hot market segment dominated by heavy hitters Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. Technically, the Tambour is not a new model line, but apart from its name, bears no similarity to the 2002 original. 

The first thing that jumps out is the lugless design, which gives the entire watch a completely seamless appearance. The other standout feature is the sector dial, which is both symmetrical, and embellished with a number of different finishes. The movement architecture is also incredibly impressive, with an almost industrial aesthetic offset by an intricately decorated micro rotor in precious metal. The new Tambour proves that watches from LV can be a lot more than a fashion accessory. Recently sold on Watch Collecting for £10,000

With Omega's beloved 'Moonwatch' seeing significant price increases at retail in recent years, the question ‘What’s the best value Speedy’ is something I hear a lot. Thankfully, there’s plenty of appealing options on the second-hand market, not least this Speedmaster Racing 'Michael Schumacher' edition.

Motorsport fans will recall the dominance of legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher in the late 90s and early 2000s. To commemorate his long run of championship victories, Omega released a series of special edition Speedys. This particular version is our favourite thanks to its more wrist-friendly 39mm case, the killer racing dial with chequered pattern, and the layout that remains faithful to the original Moonwatch. All of this for about half the price of a new Speedmaster Professional. Recently sold on Watch Collecting for £2,489

Dress watches have undergone a resurgence in recent times, stepping out of the shadows of their sporty counterparts, and an ever-increasing number of collectors are trading carbon fibre and bulky waterproof cases for some more refinement and sophistication. When it comes to the best classically-styled watches, it’s pretty hard to go past Patek Philippe. 

This reference 6119G preserves all the timeless characteristics of the line, but in more contemporary 39mm dimensions. The signature 'Clous de Paris' bezel and vertically brushed charcoal dial strike a perfect balance between modernity and tradition. Not to be overlooked is the impeccably finished manually-wound movement visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. Recently sold on Watch Collecting for £17,500