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The Jaeger Le Coultre Memovox wristwatch that sold at Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries to a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $15,600 had a black dial and a stainless steel case and bracelet. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries.

Memovox watch sells for record $15,600 at Mid-Hudson auction

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
The Jaeger Le Coultre Memovox wristwatch that sold at Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries to a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $15,600 had a black dial and a stainless steel case and bracelet. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries.
The Jaeger Le Coultre Memovox wristwatch that sold at Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries to a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $15,600 had a black dial and a stainless steel case and bracelet. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries.

VAILS GATE, N.Y. – A Memovox wristwatch made by luxury Swiss maker Jaeger Le Coultre set the crowd at Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries abuzz with excitement Saturday when it sold for $15,600 (inclusive of the buyer’s premium) to a LiveAuctioneers bidder.

The surprising result for the 1960s stainless steel wristwatch with alarm feature—estimated to bring $300-$500—is thought to be a world record price for a Memovox.

“It’s an astounding and unprecedented price,” said Joanne C. Grant, president of Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries, who was as surprised as anyone by the result.

Grant said a leading expert cataloged the vintage watch collection in the sale and later offered several possible explanations:

  • As awareness increases, new players are coming into the market and responding to highly specific information that is being published or promoted on the Internet.
  • What is happening in the wrist(watch) field is a lot of promotion and pronouncement of rarity and desirability factors that are catching on.
  • More collectors are coming to appreciate the quality watches of this period, which were all but ignored 20 years ago.

A LiveAuctioneers participant opened the bidding on the watch at $6,500. After a bidder in the gallery increased it to $7,000, Internet bidders took over the rest of the way.

View the fully illustrated catalog for Mid-Hudson’s Nov. 12 auction, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

The Jaeger Le Coultre Memovox wristwatch that sold at Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries to a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $15,600 had a black dial and a stainless steel case and bracelet. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries.
The Jaeger Le Coultre Memovox wristwatch that sold at Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries to a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $15,600 had a black dial and a stainless steel case and bracelet. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries.