Antiquorum Grading System for Timepieces & Experts' Overall Opinion

With a view to providing always a higher standard of service to its clientele, Antiquorum is introducing a grading system in its auction catalogues, giving immediate and detailed information on the condition of each lot in the sale.

With this Antiquorum Grading System, clients will have immediate answers to their questions regarding the condition of lots, and will no longer need to find the time to request condition reports. In addition, with the Experts' Overall Opinion, clients will benefit from the advice of Antiquorum's experts as each lot is given a grade based on its overall appreciation.

Although every care has been taken to remain objective, clients are nonetheless advised that any grading or condition report will, of necessity, be subjective.

Clients are reminded that all statements made in the Antiquorum Grading System, in the Experts' Overall Opinion or in any other condition report for any lot, are provided for information only and should not be considered as a guarantee of any sort. Such information is given as an opinion for which Antiquorum cannot be held responsible. Furthermore, Antiquorum cannot be held responsible for any misrepresentations or incomplete information regarding the condition of any lot.

Grading System Guide

The lots described in this catalogue have been carefully examined and valued by Antiquorum's experts and watchmakers, taking into consideration for each timepiece its aesthetical, historical and technical interest, its age and rarity, as well as the technology available at the time of its production.

For such judgment to be as objective as possible, it must rest on a number of criteria, particularly with regards to the age of a lot. Indeed, a wristwatch of less than 50 years old cannot be judged with the same criteria as a Renaissance watch. This is the reason for which some of the gradings will only qualify for certain types of watches and will never be used for others.

For example, if, as a general rule, watches can be attributed gradings from 1 to 4 for the case, the dial and the movement, watches of less than 100 years old can be given grading 1 (as new), 3 (in very good condition), or 4 (in good condition). The latter, (grading 4), will be followed by one or more grading numbers to justify why the lot cannot be considered "in very good condition". On the other hand, watches over 100 years old, of similar condition, would indeed be considered as "very good" because of their age and would therefore qualify for grading 3. Needless to say, watches over 100 years old, even in the best state of conservation for their age, are unlikely to ever be considered "as new" and would therefore never be eligible for grading 1; for this reason, we have introduced grading 2 (in perfect condition).

	At the end of each lot description, before the estimate, you will find a condition report box, with letters and numbers, divided into 3 sections: these are the grades given to the lot with reference to the condition of its case, its dial and hands, and its movement.   - To understand the grades shown in the condition report box, consult the Antiquorum Grading System as follows:   C for the case, followed by one or more numbers = condition of case D for the dial (& hands), followed by one or more numbers = condition of dial & hands M for the movement, followed by one or more numbers = condition of movement
	Next to this condition report box, is an experts' grading box featuring one letter, from to B, as an overall grade. This overall grade is the opinion of Antiquorum's experts, as a global appreciation of the lot, based on its general condition, quality, technical and historical interest, age and rarity. On this basis, it must be understood that a very early timepiece, a prototype or a watch featuring a rare escapement, although it may be in a mediocre state of conservation, enven re-cased or lacking its dial, can qualify for gradings AAA or even . - To understand the grade shown in the experts' grading box, consult the Experts' Overall Opinion.
	See example below:

Antiquorum Grading System
For Timepieces

EXPERTS' OVERALL GRADING
{general condition; quality; technical and historical interest; age; rarity}

Antique, Vintage and Modern Timepieces 

	: Exceptional
AAA	: Excellent
AA	: Very Good
A	: Good
B	: Fair

Military Watches 

Return to Abraham-Louis Breguet pocket watch.
Return to Patek Philippe ref. 5057 wrist watch.

http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/5015/grading.html Copyright © 2000,2002 Brad McCormick, Ed.D. bradmcc@cloud9.net 03 April 2006CE (2006-04-03 ISO 8601) v02.01