Discover Where Culture Shines This Fall with the Best Global Events for Collectors

Some very significant fairs and auctions lead into winter’s booming cultural season – especially if collectible art, autos, and watches are the name of your game. Take the autumnal opportunity to indulge your passions across the globe.

Art Basel Paris

Grand Palais, Paris

VIP Preview October 16 -17, 2024
General Admission October 18-20, 2024

The December Art Basel Miami is the burgeoning crowd-pleaser fair for this top-notch arts organization. However, the Parisian show, previously known as Paris+ par Art Basel, is now in its third year and is newly officially rebranded with the Art Basel moniker. The show is not only coming on strong but has shifted its dates to October as the beautifully renovated Grand Palais facility was used as a Summer Olympics venue. Over 190 illustrious galleries representing over 40 countries (including over 28 newcomers so far) have already committed. Bold-name first-time gallerists include Riyadh’s Athr Gallery, Oslo’s Standard Gallery, Madrid’s Prats Nogueras Blanchard Gallery, and New York’s Di Donna Galleries. A new sector this year, dubbed “Premise,” aims to foster a more inclusive definition of art history, comprising nine diversity-focused presentations of 19th-century art. artbasel.com/paris

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches II

Hong Kong

September 30 – October 9, 2024

The summer watch auctions in Geneva and New York tend to define the collector climate for fans of superb vintage wristwatches. If this summer’s hammer prices are any indication, final sales prices are all over the place, with nose-bleed-level figures being fairly common. For many collectors, auctions taking place in Hong Kong have provided a relative antidote, providing for more rational collecting, and Sotheby’s is on the top of its game in that arena. While lots are still being compiled for this fall’s event (which is thankfully both live and online), Sotheby’s Hong Kong watch auctions this past spring yielded uncharacteristically sane results: A platinum A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Flyback estimated to fetch as much as $64,000, hammered out a bit over that at $68,000 (still a relative bargain in this market). A fun Graham Chronofighter limited edition steel “nose art” watch was estimated to bring in $5,000 and went for a little over $2,700. But those relative bargains might not last forever. sothebys.com

Barrett-Jackson Fall Scottsdale Car Auction

Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ

October 10-13, 2024

For car auctions, this is one of the big ones! Barrett-Jackson’s Fall Scottsdale happening has a reputation not only as one of the ne plus ultra events for vintage autos, but also as one of the purest: pure auctions for pure collectors and vintage fans, full stop. While the lots for October were still being assembled at press time, some highlights from the winter Scottsdale auction include an immaculate 1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II Custom Coupe dubbed “Cashmere” that fetched $750,000; a gleaming 1967 Chevy Corvette 427/435 coupe nicknamed “The Desert Rat” that found a new owner for $256,000; and a 1965 Superformance MKIII Cobra Roadster with the moniker “The Italian Job,” which hammered out at $242,000. With the expected hoopla, check the Barrett-Jackson website for ongoing news as well as some useful and luxurious VIP attendee packages. barrett-jackson.com