The Phillips “TOKI: Watch Auction,” for which Hodinkee Japan serves as the media partner, will be held alongside the “Hong Kong Watch Auction XIX” starting November 22, 2024. This is the auction house’s first themed auction focused on Japanese watch collecting, gathering AAA Swiss replica watches that reflect the unique Japanese sense of beauty and watch-collecting culture.
The lineup includes pieces made exclusively for the Japanese market, perfectly preserved pristine examples sourced via Japanese collectors, and unique high quality UK fake watches created by Japanese independents. A select few lots were on display at the auction preview held in Tokyo earlier, and the details of the entire 115 lots are now available online. From the entire sale, here are the personal favorite picks from the editorial team at Hodinkee Japan.
Masaharu Wada – Replica Rolex Pre-Daytona Ref. 6238 Watches (Lot 78)
In this Japan-themed auction catalog, one of the pieces that piqued my interest was this top 1:1 replica Rolex Pre-Daytona Ref. 6238 watches in 14k yellow gold. I think this uniquely charming watch packs the very essence of watch collecting. This Pre-Daytona, ca. 1967, appropriately spec’d in 14k yellow gold, was a model made for the U.S. market. The watch’s biggest proposition, however, is the intricately applied engravings on the entire case (bezel, lugs, side walls, and caseback) and the bracelet (end links and clasp buckle). Delicately etched tiger and female motifs can be seen clearly on the caseback and buckle, adding a novel element to an already exciting watch.
This luxury copy watches was also featured in the Japanese publication Time Spec Magazine Issue No. 8 (Watches of the World). The story goes that a Japanese collector, Mr. Yamanaka, found this watch by chance at a knife show in New York and he managed to purchase it after a lengthy negotiation with an American Rolex dealer. The beautiful engraving covering the entire watch was done by Marcello Pedini, a renowned Italian knife engraver.
The valuation of modern watch collecting often focuses on “how well the original conditions have been preserved.” Besides the added engravings, the best replica watches retains all its original components in beautiful condition. What we also need to pay attention to is the hammer price of the piece at the last auction. The auction debut of this watch was at Christie’s “Important Watches” sale in 2007, when it fetched a whopping 787,500 Hong Kong dollars (about 11,500,000 Japanese yen at that time).
Surprisingly, this aftermarket-engraved Pre-Daytona realized the highest price among all other Daytona lots at the auction. For reference, a Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 was sold for 611,500 HKD, and a solid gold Ref. 6263 fetched 427,500 HKD.
In a world where values are heavily biased towards originality, this Pre-Daytona serves as a reminder that the watch-collecting hobby is supposed to be free-minded and up to individual sensibilities. This engraved piece is an embodiment of the original owner’s appreciation towards their own sense of beauty and aesthetic values literally etched into the China online super clone watches, and it shows us the fun aspect of collecting — it is not always about the originality alone, and a personality and stories like this could add a depth to our beloved hobby.
The estimate is 160,000–310,000 HKD (about 4,700,000–7,840,000 JPY and $30,300–$50,700 USD).
Yusuke Mutakami – Fake Omega Speedmaster Professional ‘Golden Panda’ Watches (Lot 13)
In the entire TOKI Watch Auction lineup, I think Omega replica watches for men came out strong, second only to Rolex. Personally, the cult-classic Ultraman and the world’s first ana-digi chronograph, the Chrono-Quartz, also tickled my fancy. However, to go with the Japan-focused theme of the auction, I picked this model: a 40-piece Japanese limited edition Speedmaster, dubbed the “Golden Panda.”
The value of this Swiss movements copy watches, which is made of a solid gold case, panda dial, and black bezel, is not just about the edition size but also its execution. In a Christie’s auction in 2016, the serial number 17 of this model, which had a 20,000–30,000 USD estimate, realized 35,000 USD (about 4,200,000 JPY at that time), and the Phillips Watch Auction XVI held in 2023 brought 304,800 HKD (about 5,486,000 JPY then) against the 250,000–550,000 HKD estimate for the edition serial number 1. Both examples were in pristine condition with not a single stain on the dial, and this one is on par with those as far as the condition is concerned. The subtle patina on the gold case actually looks beautiful, and there are no detractive scratches on the case. The engravings on the caseback stay crisp, with “Limited Edition” and “16/40” signifying the rarity of this reference.
Unless you are after a specific serial number, this might be a chance to win one of the rare “Golden Pandas” at a relatively reasonable price point. It comes full-set with the box, the international warranty card stamped by Shinjuku Takashimaya, and the cardholder. Personally, I like that this model sports the Cal. 1861, which was discontinued in 2020.
That being said, I must confess that the number-one reason I picked this particular perfect replica watches was due to its looks. The combination of black bezel insert and gold case is lustrous yet mature. The black outer track fills the white dial nicely, making the whole fake watches UK shop quite handsome. This particular combination is unique to this reference as far as I could find. The estimate is identical to the more famous “Ultraman” (which even gained an homage variant in the MoonSwatch series) in Lot 58, but I’d like to push this one over that for its rarity.
The estimate is 150,000–300,000 HKD (about 2,760,000–5,520,000 JPY and $17,800–$35,700 USD).