We witnessed Geneva play host to a handful of replica watch auctions last week, with the likes of Christie's, Phillips, and Sotheby's descending on the city and dropping some hammers. As the dust settled, it is obvious that the fake vintage Rolex reigns supreme, with the Rolex Daytona Ultimatum sale at Phillips selling all 32 of its lots, the price is rather cheap. The big one in the mix - the one-of-a-kind white gold Daytona, dubbed the "Unicorn" - gave buyers some kind of a horn, selling at a low price as well, making it the second cheapest Rolex ever sold at auction. 
While the conversation around casa de Time+Tide this week has been mostly centered around the ever-increasing demand for vintage Daytonas, and whether their astronomical prices are even sustainable, what also began to emerge as a trending topic was the apparent flow-on effect these high prices are having on other brands like the replica Omega, who smashed their Geneva auction estimates right out of the park and even broke a few records of their own.
Of course, it had the celebrity factor. It might not be much of a surprise to see a few Speedmasters enter the mix, but it was to see that at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: Seven, all smashed well through their estimates. There was the first-of-its-kind Omega Speedmaster ref. 2915-1 "Broad Arrow".
It's only inevitable that as prices for fake vintage Rolex watches continue to skyrocket, collectors are going to look to get their thrills elsewhere. And with a history as storied as theirs, vintage Omega is showing that it's the answer.
Not to get too metaphysical with you on a Saturday morning, but does three replica watches count as a list? Honestly, I have no idea anyway, and the fact is I couldn't find too many more 'true' champagne dials that were released in 2018. And there's even one or two I can think of that aren't *technically* public yet, but proper, cork-popping champagne? Not so many. Why is that so? Perhaps it's because champagne is an acquired and, dare I say, sophisticated taste.
A dial variant of last year's two-tone number, this version swaps out pedestrian black for fantastic champagne! To be honest, it looks gold as well.
Montblanc's dials have been promoted to the next level in 2018, with this smoky, gradated champagne number being a case in point. And while it's offered on the chronograph versions too, this simple 1858 Automatic is our personal pick.
It is no surprise to all that the amazing Grand Seiko is on this list. Those who know their champagne dials are amongst their finest work.