Sotheby's Watch Specialist

About Sotheby's

Sotheby’s is an auction house founded in London in 1744. Its specialists work across fine art and collecting categories including jewelry, watches, handbags, wine, design, and classic cars. The house connects collectors through live and online auctions, private sales, and fixed-price purchases. Its work spans specialist research and cataloging, client services, marketing, technology, finance, and operations, supporting the preparation, sale, and movement of objects across its international network.

Role & Responsibilities

• Source and secure profitable auction consignments and direct private-sale opportunities, meet individual revenue targets, and achieve local and regional revenue budgets.
• Generate business opportunities and consignments for the Americas Magnificent Jewels and Fine & Important Jewels sales, focusing on private clients, collections, and selected trade relationships.
• Grow Sotheby's Watches' private-client network and pipeline to exceed assigned sales goals.
• Develop a long-term client strategy across private, trade, and jewelry clients, partnering with Client Strategy to create short-, medium-, and long-term private-client leads for auction or private-sale consignments.
• Value property and provide auction, fixed-price, fair-market, and insurance estimates as required by clients.
• Work with the Head of Department Watches in Geneva and Europe on target criteria, proposals, proactive pitch documents, and communications.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and the global Sotheby's Watches team to create and execute innovative, profitable sale formats and concepts across Sotheby's sales channels.
• Represent Sotheby's Watches internally and externally, promote its services, products, and expertise, and cross-sell its business to Sotheby's clients.
• Attend and participate in networking events and conferences to build expertise and client-development skills.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of professional experience as a watches expert in the global market.
• Experience in auctions and/or high-end retail preferred.
• Ability to identify and overcome obstacles to growth and success, and translate expertise into results.
• Proven management experience; an inspirational, dynamic leader with experience working with global teams.
• Commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards, consistent with Sotheby's reputation.
• A no-compromise approach to luxury, protecting the Sotheby's Watches vision and brand equity while achieving short-term sales goals.
• Experience developing ultra-high-net-worth and trade networks and converting relationships into revenue.
• Strong networking ability and aptitude for converting social connections into business opportunities.
• High attention to detail.
• Professional, discreet, commercially minded client-service skills.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and SAP preferred.

Skills

Experience

At least 8 years of professional experience as a watches expert in the global market; auction and/or high-end retail experience preferred.

Culture

Sotheby’s describes its culture in terms of client service, specialist knowledge, curiosity, collaboration, and ethical conduct. Its careers materials emphasize working across disciplines and encouraging employees to explore internal opportunities.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.