SAM HINES
CHAIRMAN OF WATCHES
SOTHEBY’S
“The Ultimate Rolex Daytona by Pucci Papaleo is one of the books I flip through the most. I think this is the most incredible way a watch has ever been illustrated and photographed. The book is displayed next to my kitchen, and I change the page every day.
Finally, working in Asia, we must research many watches made for the Chinese market. The best sources are auction and museum catalogues from The Antiquorum Sandberg Collection, The John Pierpont Morgan Collection of Watches, The Maurice Sandoz Collection and Treasures from the Patek Philippe Museum.”
Sam Hines has carved a notable path in the watch auction industry. After studying Political Science at New York University, he began his career at Sotheby’s London in 1997 as a postboy. He quickly rose through the ranks before moving on to the Henry Stern Watch Agency, the New York-based Patek Philippe distributor. There, he was tasked with training staff and organising events and exhibitions on the famed watchmaker Patek Philippe. Leadership positions at Christie’s and Phillips followed before he became the International Head of Watches at Philips.
One of Sam’s remarkable achievements was overseeing the sale of a stainless steel Patek Philippe Ref. 1518, which set a world auction record for a wristwatch at CHF11 million. Another highlight was selling a pair of Singing Bird Pistols for HK$45.5 million. Sam was involved in selling a unique platinum Rolex Daytona with a lapis lazuli hardstone dial, which sold for HK$25.4 million in 2020. In 2021, Sam joined Loupe This as Managing Director, where his leadership helped establish the platform as a key player in digital watch auctions.
Sam returned to Sotheby’s in 2024, as Chairman of Watches, where he continues to leverage his extensive experience and keen eye for exceptional clocks and watches. His return has been marked by renewed energy and strategic initiatives aimed at further solidifying Sotheby’s position in the watch auction market.