The auction process
The auction process is not as daunting as you may think, especially if you have selected Antiquorum as your auctioneer. Antiquorum and its team of experts strive to help you, the client, buy and sell at auction with ease and confidence. To walk you through the process, Antiquorum has outlined the important steps you should know in order to successfully purchase or consign timepieces and jewelry at auction.
THE AUCTION CATALOGUE (printed or online)
THE BUYER
Lot descriptions provide technical data carefully compiled by our experts for each lot in the sale and are often enhanced by historical or biographical comments.
• Estimates are listed at the end of each lot description and are an indication of the price range the lot is expected to fetch. Estimates do not include the buyer’s premium or sales tax.
• An estimate indicated by three stars ***, advises clients to contact Antiquorum for more information.
• Condition Reports are given for each lot in the catalogue based on a grading system developed by Antiquorum’s experts. This grading system is explained at the end of the auction catalogue.
• Buyers are advised to read the Conditions of Sale (at the end of the auction catalogue or online) and Important Notices (at the end of the auction catalogue or online) before bidding at auction.
• Auction catalogue can be viewed at www.antiquorum.swiss
Each client wishing to bid at auction is required to register at the latest two hours before the sale. Clients may register the day of the sale, starting one hour before the auction venue. Clients will be able to pick up their bidding paddles on the day of the sale, prior to the auction, just outside the saleroom.
TELEPHONE BIDS
You may also participate in Antiquorum auctions by telephone. This service is free of charge and telephone bids will be executed by an Antiquorum staff member in the saleroom. All telephone bids must be confirmed in writing on a completed bid form. Please provide the telephone number(s) at which you can be reached during the sale. Bid forms should be completed and signed, then emailed to bids@antiquorum.swiss at latest the day before the auction. Antiquorum cannot be held responsible for errors, omissions or late-arriving telephone bids. An Antiquorum staff member will call you during the auction approximately 3 to 10 lots before the lot(s) on which you wish to bid. Language assistance for telephone bidding is available in English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese. Please note that all bid cancellations must be received in writing.
CLIENTS ARE ADVISED TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS
FOR TELEPHONE BIDS AT LE AST
TWO DAYS BEFORE THE SALE
ONLINE BIDDER REGISTRATION
The registration process for online interactive bidding and online absentee bidding is similar to that used for traditional telephone and absentee bidding. On Antiquorum’s fully secure website, www.antiquorum.swiss, the following steps must be completed by prospective buyers:
• Register, providing the bidder’s name, address, telephone number, email address, and a requested credit limit for online bidding. NOTE: First time bidders are required to provide a valid ID (passport or identity card). In some cases, Antiquorum may impose a credit limit to the online applicant, in which case the amended credit limit will be communicated to the client upon receipt of the registration form.
• Accept Antiquorum’s terms and conditions of sale.
• Condition Reports are given for each lot in the catalogue based on a grading system developed by Antiquorum’s experts. This grading system is explained at the end of the auction catalogue.
• Submit registration form to Antiquorum’s fully secure website.
• Approved bidders will receive an email confirmation
Once the auction catalogue is available online, prospective buyers can register or place absentee bids online. Absentee bids are accepted online up until three hours prior to the start of the live interactive auction. On auction day, registered online bidders connect to www.antiquorum.swiss to follow instructions for live interactive bidding.
For collectors who simply want to follow the live auction in progress, no registration is needed to view a live internet broadcast made available on auction day. For additional information about the online bidding system, terms and conditions of use and sale, please visit www.antiquorum.swiss.
ONLINE INTERACTIVE AND ABSENTEE BIDDING
Antiquorum’s fully secure online interactive bidding system allows prospective buyers to place interactive bids and absentee bids directly through www.antiquorum.swiss for all traditional auctions worldwide. Especially designed to offer the suspense and excitement of a traditional auction room, Antiquorum’s online interactive bidding system allows buyers worldwide to bid as safely and comfortably as if they were in the saleroom.
THE SYSTEM OFFERS MANY FEATURES TO FACILITATE THE ONLINE BIDDING PROCESS:
• The lot number with its image and description.
• Bid history for all previous bids on the current lot
buyers are bidding upon.
• Access to a HELPLINE in the event of a connection
failure.
Antiquorum’s online interactive bidding system also offers buyers the option to place an online absentee bid. Absentee bids are accepted by the online server up to three hours before the start of the live interactive auction.
AUCTION PREVIEWS
Previews are conducted by Antiquorum prior to each auction and details of these exhibitions are found at the beginning of every catalogue or online. Previews are open to the public and prospective buyers are encouraged to view and examine lots offered for sale prior to making their purchases.
CURRENCY CONVERSION
Auctions are conducted in Euros in Monaco, in Swiss Francs in Geneva, in HK Dollars in Hong Kong and in US Dollars in Miami/NewYork. A currency conversion board is made available in each saleroom and online, indicating approximate exchange rates for various major currencies.
BIDDING INCREMENTS
Bidding usually opens below the low estimate figure of each lot and generally advances in increments of 10%, for example
VALUES INCREMENTS*
from USD 500 to 1,000 by USD 50
from USD 1,001 to 2,000 by USD 100
from USD 2,001 to 5,000 by USD 200
from USD 5,001 to 10,000 by USD 500
from USD 10,001 to 20,000 by USD 1,000
from USD 20,001 at the auctioneer’s discretion
* The auctionner may adjust the bidding increments
at his/her discretion.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
When the auctioneer’s hammer falls, the final bid has been reached and the auctioneer will record the bidder’s paddle number, or the absentee bid number. If your bids have been successful, you will be notified by means of an invoice sent by e-mail. You are also welcome to call Antiquorum the day after the auction to request the outcome of your bids.
LOTS SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE
When the entire first part of the description is in red, this indicates that the lot is to be sold without reserve, as is also stated beneath or alongside the description.
LOTS FROM OUTSIDE THE USA
Buyers are advised that lots from outside the USA (Identified by an*) are subject to applicable import taxes and customs-related charges:
• If the lot is delivered within the USA The applicable import taxes and duties are due on the hammer price plus the Buyer’s Premium, in addition to USD 180 for the termination of the temporary import, at the Buyer’s expense.
• If the lot is delivered outside the USA USD 180 for the termination of the temporary import is due, at the Buyer’s expense.
SALES RESULT
Price lists are made available online at www. antiquorum.swiss approximately 24 hours after the end of each auction.
PAYMENT
Payment for purchased lots at any Antiquorum auction is due within 7 days of the sale date.
• For traditional auctions, the buyer’s premium is: 25% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including USD 1.000,000, 20% from USD 1.000,001 to USD 5,000,000 and 15% for all amounts in excess of USD 5,000,001.
• Extended payment terms or special credit terms can be arranged on occasion, before the auction.
• For information regarding payment policies: please contact accounting department at Antiquorum Miami, tel. +1 728 207 5550.
PAYMENT METHODS
Payment may be submitted by wire transfer, check (restrictions apply) or credit card (restrictions apply).
• Wire transfer Please refer to the wire transfer instructions as shown on your customer invoice.
• Credit cards : Major credit cards are accepted (additional charge) 3% service charge for MasterCard, Visa and American Express.
• For buyers having paid by credit card, a shipping delay of 3 to 7 working days may apply in order to do additional controls.
ONLINE INTERACTIVE AND ABSENTEE BIDDING
Antiquorum’s fully secure online interactive bidding system allows prospective buyers to place interactive bids and absentee bids directly through www.antiquorum. swiss for all traditional auctions worldwide. Especially designed to offer the suspense and excitement of a traditional auction room, Antiquorum’s online interactive bidding system allows buyers worldwide to bid as safely and comfortably as if they were in the saleroom.
COLLECTION
For collection of lots purchased, the buyer will need to contact Antiquorum with instructions. Collection of purchased lots can only take place once the invoice has been paid in full.
For more details, contact Antiquorum Miami, tel. +1 728 207 5550.
SHIPPING & INSURANCE
Winning lots (watches and jewelry only) are available for pick up at our Miami office for buyers having selected the collect point Miami and at our Hong Kong office for buyers having selected the collect point Hong Kong.
All others will be shipped directly to their location as per buyer‘s instructions.
Please note that buyers are responsible for all shipping fees and any other applicable fees including value added tax, customs duties etc… for importation to their respective countries.
1% of the hammer price plus premium will be charged to cover the insurance liability, as according to law once the hammer falls the buyer is responsible for the insurance of the lot.
Please note Antiquorum is not responsible for shipping clocks, furnitures, voluminous and/or fragile items. Our shipping department will assist you in choosing a third party crating service.