It takes more than a money briefcase and having the fastest finger first. We asked an expert how to prepare for bidding at online watch auctions. These novelties are manufactured at the highest degree of jewellery and mechanical craftsmanship. Surviving decades, they offer not only monetary value but also a heritage and story. Hence, bringing a sentimental value with them. These pieces and the process of collecting them certainly has a charm of their own. However, on the financial side of things, vintage watches have always been fantastic assets to own, and it’s no surprise that their prices have skyrocketed in recent years. As a unique investment and novelty, the financial values of these elegant artefacts also have unique determinants. And for first-time bidders, it can be easy to find themselves lost in this rabbit hole. More so, as online watch auctions are slowly replacing traditional ones, there’s much to learn about the new auction process and the market. To help us understand this better, we spoke with Mr Deepak Krishnamoorthy, a timepiece expert from AstaGuru, one of India’s finest luxury auction houses.