INSIGHT RADAR: News in Brief from the World of Watches
Four recent reports from very different sectors illustrate just how diverse the watch market is at present. They cover professional resale, record results from independent watchmakers, security issues in the high-end segment, and the enduring power of pop-culture collaborations.
Cover photo: The F.P. JOURNE Chronomètre à Résonance “Souscription, No. 007,” auctioned in New York
An Overview of the Reports
Vintage.com Launches in Germany
Arcavindi will operate in Germany under the Vintage.com brand going forward. The C2B provider launched its unified brand identity for the German market in mid-June, thereby consolidating its European operations under a single name.
Since entering the market in January 2025, Vintage.com reports that it has served more than 30,000 customers in Germany and paid out over 2.9 million euros. For 2026, the company reports that customer demand is nine times higher than during the same period last year.
Among other things, the company buys jewelry, watches, gold, silver, coins, cameras, vintage electronics, toys, and collectibles directly from private sellers. Customers send in multiple items in a single package and receive a total offer after the items have been inspected.
Another Record-Breaking Auction at Phillips
The Phillips New York Watch Auction: XIV achieved total sales of $75.8 million on June 13 and 14, 2026. All 158 lots offered were sold. According to the auction house, it was the most successful watch auction ever held in the United States.
The auction was led by an F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance “Souscription, No. 007” (cover photo), which sold for 13.922 million U.S. dollars. In doing so, the watch set new records for F.P. Journe, for a watch by an independent watchmaker, and for a 21st-century watch at a commercial auction.
Phillips’ auction in Hong Kong had already caused a stir due to the high prices achieved: INSIGHT-LUXURY reported
Legal Action Following the Theft of a Richard Mille Watch
The owner of a Richard Mille RM 65-01—LeBron James—has filed a lawsuit against Liberty Media/F1 and the Circuit of the Americas. The lawsuit stems from the theft of the watch during the Formula 1 race weekend in Austin.
The watch is said to have been stolen from its owner during the event in October 2025. Reports estimate the value of the model at approximately 750,000 U.S. dollars. The legal action is directed against the event organizers and the platform in connection with security issues surrounding the race weekend.
G-SHOCK x Coca-Cola
Casio has unveiled a special edition model, the G-SHOCK x Coca-Cola GA-2100CC-3A. The model was developed to mark Coca-Cola’s 140th anniversary and is based on the well-known GA-2100 series.
The watch incorporates design elements from the Coca-Cola contour bottle, including a green-transparent color scheme for the bezel and strap, as well as details reminiscent of the bottle’s structure. The packaging was also designed in the style of a Coca-Cola vending machine.
What is striking is not so much that these reports come from very different market segments, but rather that they all arise at a common intersection and reveal a great deal about the very different mechanisms through which watches today derive their market value, reach, and relevance.
