Bacs has refined auctioneering to a performance art, and his sale of Paul Newman's watch in 2017 earned him many admirers
A split-second decision to urge the raising of another paddle, or to hold a silence a little longer, can translate into tens of thousands of dollars for auctioneer Aurel Bacs. One half of the renowned Bacs and Russo watch auction house, which now actively partners with Phillips auction house to hold sales, Bacs has refined auctioneering to a performance art, the podium being his stage and the gavel his co-star. "It's improvisation, like jazz or sometimes like stand-up comedy," he jokes.
Each auction season, tens of thousands of people tune in live online to watch Bacs sell. He's been an important name on the watch scene for years, but his sale of the world's most expensive watch in 2017 catapulted him to superstardom among gawking hypebeasts and those simply baffled by the insane US$15.5 million achieved by a 1968 Paul Newman Rolex Daytona previously owned by the actor himself.
Paul Newman's vintage watch shows demand is alive and ticking
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The rhythm of his performance on the podium took years to perfect, and Bacs understands the power of seizing the mood and the movement in a room. "You mostly have your instincts and your own experience to guide you. It is one moment after another where the auctioneer has to decide whether to push to accelerate, to raise his voice or go a bit lower, to smile or give extra time," he says.
While it may take only a few minutes to break a world record, a reputation in the elitist watch industry takes decades to cultivate. To develop that reputation involves bringing to the game extensive knowledge of the subject matter. Lessons on timepieces began in early childhood for Bacs, when his father inspired his fascination with them. He has been passionately involved with the industry for more than 35 years.
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A watch lover in the truest sense, Bacs has amassed a significant collection over the years that includes the greatest names in historic and contemporary watchmaking. However, he does not consider himself a watch collector because when it comes to buying watches he allows passion to overrule discipline.
"By discipline I mean, 'Oh, I would like to have all the references made of such and such a brand in the 1960s', or 'I would like to have all the versions of that model from the 1970s'. That's not me," he says.
Instead, love at first sight is usually what leads to a new purchase. "When I see a watch, it clicks and I fall in love with it. Then, of course, the question is does the price tag meet my budget, or does my budget meet the price tag? I just follow the instinct in my heart."
Among the more conventional mechanical timepieces he owns, such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus, is a recent purchase that was made when following that instinct. "The last watch I fell in love with is a battery watch, it's not round and it's the FP Journe elegante." Bacs says it's one of the cleverest timepieces he's seen in recent years; the moment he saw it at Geneva in 2019, he knew he had to have it.
Aurel Bacs' preferred watches
"I cannot explain why but the boy inside me told me that this was something I needed to have. I've worn it to the mountains, and both formally and casually. When you fall in love, it's probably right for you."
"Rolex and Patek are the most headline-grabbing names these days in the press. Certainly at this moment the famous Patek Philippe Nautilus is very popular."
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