Antiquorum’s year closes in Monaco with a sale that feels perfectly in tune with the city’s particular mix of light, elegance and serious collecting intent. The Monaco Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces auction will take place on Friday, 12 December 2025, from 3:30 p.m., at Accademia Fine Art, 27 Boulevard des Moulins, where 181 curated lots will be presented in partnership between Antiquorum and the Monte-Carlo gallery.
A Riviera stage for horology
Accademia Fine Art offers an intimate yet refined setting, with the Riviera just outside and a focused selection of watches inside, ready to be examined, discussed and, eventually, fought over at the rostrum. The preview runs every day from Monday, 8 December, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., giving collectors generous time to handle the pieces and form their strategies ahead of the sale.
Antiquorum positions this auction as the final act of a busy international calendar that has already seen Geneva and Hong Kong sessions conclude with strong results, bringing the spotlight now to Monaco for a closing chapter devoted to modern and vintage watchmaking. The collaboration with Accademia Fine Art adds a local cultural dimension, aligning fine art and fine watchmaking under one roof on Boulevard des Moulins.
The gold Paul Newman highlight
At the centre of attention sits a watch that concentrates decades of mythology into one yellow gold case: the first gold Paul Newman Daytona to be offered at auction by an authorised Rolex retailer under the Certified Pre-Owned programme, listed as Lot 181. With a starting bid in the region of 500,000 to 550,000 euro, the piece aligns itself with the rarefied end of the Paul Newman market, where exceptional examples routinely command mid six-figure and higher sums.
The watch combines the appeal of a John Player Special-style gold reference with the reassurance of contemporary certification, a bridge between vintage charisma and modern programme-backed traceability. For many collectors, this mix of period dial aesthetics, precious metal presence and official CPO endorsement will be a significant part of the lot’s attraction, particularly in an environment such as Monaco where both provenance and theatre are highly appreciated.
A catalogue of coveted names
Beyond this headline Rolex, the catalogue ranges from historically important complications to characterful daily-wear pieces, with names including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Omega and a broad spectrum of other maisons represented across 181 entries. Enthusiasts will find everything from elegant dress watches and shaped cases to sport chronographs and gem-set creations, with estimates structured to welcome both seasoned collectors and those looking to secure a first serious auction purchase.
The online catalogue on Antiquorum’s platform allows detailed browsing of every lot, with images, descriptions and estimates, while Accademia Fine Art’s own auction page provides a succinct overview of timings and viewing details. For those unable to travel to Monaco, live bidding registration and remote participation are available directly via Antiquorum’s digital interface, keeping the Riviera energy accessible from afar.
Practical details for visitors
Preview exhibitions are scheduled from Monday, 8 December to Thursday, 11 December, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with an additional viewing window on the morning of the sale day from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Accademia Fine Art. The auction itself begins at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, 12 December 2025, at 27, Boulevard des Moulins, 98000 Monaco, bringing the curtain down on Antiquorum’s 2025 season with a distinctly Monegasque flair.
Collectors interested in preparing in advance can consult the full online catalogue on Antiquorum’s website and the digital Issue preview, both of which present the sale in a format well suited to detailed study before stepping into the gallery or logging in to bid. In a year rich in horological activity, this Monaco session has all the ingredients to stand out as a refined finale, with that gold Paul Newman Daytona as its most talked-about moment.
