…to exPert of internationaL standing
Romain Réa’s reputation is well and truly established. To date, as well as his two busy Paris stores, recent years have seen the addition of a pop-up boutique in Courchevel. Alongside these activities, he is a member of two antique appraisal bodies, the French Union of Experts (UFE) and the French Syndicate of Professional Experts on Works of Art and Collections (SFEP). With such credentials to his name, his call-up as an expert to the Paris Court of Appeal in 2013 can be seen as part of a natural progression. Outside the day-today running of his businesses, he has co-authored a number of books about watchmaking, and collaborates with many watch manufacturers, among them Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger-LeCoultre. His insights also appear in contributions published on internationally prestigious websites dedicated to this specialist area. The most recent feather in his cap is perhaps his appointment as CEO of Antiquorum, in 2017, a move that observers say has breathed fresh life into the world’s oldest watch auction specialized in horology.
Passing on a Passion for exCeLLenCe
from watCh
enthusiast extraordinaire… Entrepreneur Romain Réa is an undisputed expert in the world of vintage watches, having been welcoming collectors and enthusiasts alike into his stores since 1994. Backed up by an expert team and a watchmaking workshop of the highest professional calibre, he makes it his duty to confirm the authenticity of every single luxury and collector’s
watch that passes through his collections. Although any kind of timepiece is liable to pique his interest, military watches are his number one passion, perhaps in a nod to his past as an aeronautics student and time spent in the French air force. After taking possession of his first watch – unsurprisingly, a Breitling Navitimer – there was no looking back, and he quickly progressed from enthusiast to collector before becoming a dealer and finally rising to the rank of expert.
Since 1997, he has on numerous occasions been the go-to expert for major film producers. Analysing each script in detail, he picks out the most fitting watches to grace the wrists of actors as famous as Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Kevin Costner during
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their blockbuster appearances, allowing his passion – and many of his watches – to find its way onto the big screen. Romain Réa brings all this expertise to bear in the service of enthusiasts and seasoned connoisseurs alike, supporting them every step along the way in the valuation, restoration or acquisition of timepieces. Ably assisted by his specialist team, he will fine-tune his offer to meet your every need, whether you wish to have your watch valued, sold or repaired.
a uniQue
CoLLeCtion of vintage watChes Réa’s two Paris stores, one in the Saint-Germain district and the other near the ChampsÉlysées, welcome customers through their doors all year round. Most of the watches in his collections are vintage models, some symbolic of an era, others simply produced by a long list of great names including Rolex, Cartier, JaegerLeCoultre, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Breitling, to name but a few. Alongside models from the very top drawer that will delight anyone from novices testing the waters for the first time to veteran watch enthusiasts, customers will now also find more recent models and jewellery. The watchmaking workshop is fitted out to authenticate each and every timepiece that crosses its threshold and make any necessary repairs along the way, meaning your purchase, in addition to its oneyear warranty, is guaranteed to be a genuine item. A comprehensive valuation and certification service is also available.
TH E GATE COLLECTION M AG A ZI N E
2020