Meet Roy Davidoff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy Davidoff.

Hi Roy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My fascination started early. I was about four when a watch shop window first stopped me in my tracks. At 13, my father gave me my first vintage watch, a 1969 Omega Speedmaster Mark II with a racing dial, and I kept collecting through my childhood, following him through the auction houses. Luxury was in the family: we were wholesale gem dealers.
In the early 1990s I packed and strapped watches by the tens of thousands for a fashion brand. Handling that many pieces trained my eye for detail and quality. By 16, I had already been selling watches on the side for a few years. At 21, after my grenadier service in the Swiss army, I got into it more seriously, working with vintage collectors worldwide.
I’ve been back in Geneva for a quarter of a century. I spent over a decade here in watch design, sales and sales training for Bovet Fleurier, Jacob & Co and IWC. In 2014, I co-founded Roy & Sacha Davidoff SA. Today we’re a by-appointment vintage dealer in Geneva. I’ve served on the GPHG jury and sit in the GPHG Academy, and I’m a jury member of the Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow and of the Tad Kozh New Talent Award.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any career, it’s had its ups and downs. But I’m happy with where I am today, both as a collector and with how well known our company has become in vintage circles.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart is my background. I’ve been looking at the best of the past for nearly four decades, and that has taught me to understand what collectors really want. Alongside the shop, I still consult for brands, and it’s rewarding to see how well some of that advice has paid off, especially when a brand I’ve worked with goes on to win at the GPHG.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
An eye for detail, and having my brother to bounce ideas off when we’re hunting for important watches. Years of handling watches taught me to notice what separates a truly good piece from an ordinary one, and having someone I trust completely to test my judgement against makes all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.db1983.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roydavidoff/ https://www.instagram.com/davidoffbrothers/