FAQ – Buying
General
If you are considering selling your collector’s items, we recommend that you take advantage of the excellent market conditions at our international auctions.
- Worldwide connections: For more than 50 years, we have been maintaining excellent relations with collectors, dealers, investors, institutions and private customers all over the world.
- Outstanding selection: In the course of more than 50 years, we have sold collections and individual pieces worth more than half a billion Swiss francs in total.
- Online and hall auctions: By offering auctions both in our auction hall and online via live stream, we are able to reach a maximum of potential buyers.
- Excellent returns: Our choice selection makes for excellent prices. We’ve held the turnover record of 33 million Swiss francs for a stamp auction for decades now.
- Quality of service: We foster business relationships built on trust by offering top quality, both in terms of services for our customers and selection.
- Credit rating, security, independence: We are a fully independent, owner-managed family business with enough equity to secure your items.
- Personal commitment: We, that is Peter Rapp, Marianne Rapp Ohmann and team personally look after each and every customer, tailored to their individual needs.
- Tradition: We have been a leading auction house with unwavering success over the past 50 years.
We offer various options to help you purchase the items of your dreams.
Auctions: We regularly hold both in-person and online auctions. Items and collections are sold publicly, or just online over the internet, to the highest bidder.
Shop Now: All items can be purchased at a set price from our online shop.
You have the possibility to follow all our auctions online on your computer, tablet or cell phone via livestream. Just click on the button “follow the auction as a guest ” in the auction calendar of our website as soon as the auction starts. Please note that as a guest you have no bidding function.
CATALOGUE - DESCRIPTIONS - EXHIBITION
All items are open for viewing at our auction house several days before being auctioned. During these free, public viewings, our experts are at hand to answer any questions. For dates, times and places, please go to Auctions.
The items presented via the Shop Now online shop may be viewed by appointment.
The condition of all watches is described in keywords, the descriptions mean the following:
– Unworn (new, without any signs of wear)
– Mint (worn, with no, or hardly any visible signs of wear)
– Fine (light to visible signs of wear or scratches)
– Fair (clearly visible signs of wear or scratches)
– Poor (heavy signs of wear or scratches)
A permit is required to export items which are produced using the skins and furs of certain species of animal and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In Switzerland, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) requires CITES export permits to be issued and also provides the necessary means to obtain these permits. As the FSVO is the only organisation with this authority, Rapp Auctions is neither permitted nor able to issue any certificates or export licences. The buyer is solely responsible for identifying and obtaining all relevant import or export licences for the items they have purchased. The buyer is also responsible for paying all associated fees. Failure to obtain a permit, or a delay in doing so, is no justification for a refund of the purchase price or a delay in full payment for the item(s) in question. The symbol ~ indicating protected or controlled species in the catalogue is intended solely as general guidance for buyers and Rapp Auctions does not accept any liability for any errors or omissions.
BID / BUY
Bidding at one of our auctions is really easy. Simply register in writing post, by e-mail, online or in person – this is irrespective of whether you would like to bid in person or online. We generally need a copy of your official identification document for registration. In principle, we require a copy of an official ID as well as proof of address when registering, and an additional excerpt from the commercial register for companies. Please note that we may ask for a bank or third-party reference before accepting bids for particularly pricey items.
There are several ways to take part in our auctions. You can take part in our hall auctions by attending personally, or by placing your bids over the phone. You can also bid over the internet during our live stream. You may also submit your written purchase orders by post, e-mail or via our auction platform.
Our general auction conditions lay down the conditions under which Rapp Auctions and consignors agree the sale of a lot to a buyer. Please note that conditions vary between departments. Please read the conditions carefully prior to placing a bid. By registering for placing a bid or placing a bid during an auction you automatically agree to the respective conditions.
You can find the conditions for the respective subject areas with the following link:
www.rapp-auktionen.ch/en/auction-conditions/
A commission of 25% on all awards plus postage, insurance and any additional services will be added to the bid amount.
The statutory VAT rules may vary between departments. For further information, please read the general auction conditions. Do you have any questions? Our team will be happy to provide you with information.
We thank you if you pay the auction invoice by bank transfer. On site we accept payments in cash or by debit card (Maestro, Postcard). Please note that due to increasing cases of fraud we cannot accept credit card payments.
For further information on how to bid, please click on the following link:
https://www.rapp-auktionen.ch/en/bidding/ )
AFTER THE AUCTION
After the auction has ended, you will receive an automatic result email where you can see the successful bids you have obtained. In the days following the auction, you will receive the auction invoice via email.
Auction invoices will generally be dispatched by e-mail one week after the auction ends. Please check the delivery address on your invoice to ensure that your purchases are sent to the correct address. If you have any special requests concerning delivery, please let us know so that we can arrange for your request.
We take care of a proper packaging of the watches and a smooth shipping of your auction lots. Please note that for shipments outside of Switzerland we have to prepare the appropriate required shipping documents / customs papers. The following costs for the departements Jewellery, Watches and Designer Bags will be charged as a lump sum for packing, shipping and preparation of customs documents (applies to shipments leaving Switzerland):
Switzerland CHF 20.- transit time 1 – 2 days
Europe* CHF 60.- transit time 3 – 6 days
Overseas* CHF 80.- transit time 4 – 8 days
*incl. preparation of international shipping documents
For Stamps, Coins, Decorative Arts and Wines & Spirits sections, shipping costs are calculated individually at cost price.
Your package is fully insured by Auktionshaus Rapp during transport. For the full insurance coverage, Auktionshaus Rapp charges 0.5% of the auction invoice. Auction lots that have not been picked up after November 29, 2023 or for which no shipping order has been received from the buyer will be stored at the buyer’s expense. Rapp Auctioneers cannot ship lots abroad that are marked with the ~ symbol in the auction catalog. These lots can only be picked up at our auction house or sent to an address in Switzerland.
Depending on the item, its carat weight, value, number of pieces, delivery method and destination, dispatch times may vary. They also depend on the payment for the auction invoice including shipping costs having been fully paid.
A pickup of the auctioned lots can take place after receipt of payment at the following times: Monday, 13 to Friday, 17 November 2023: Lots may be picked up during the auction and no later than 8:00 pm. After the auction, lots can be picked up from Monday, November 20 to Wednesday, November 29, 2023 (weekdays) from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day in the gallery (ground floor) of the Rapp Auction House.
The post-sale of unsold auction lots runs until Monday, December 11, 2023. At the post-sale, auction lots can be purchased at the starting price (lower estimated price) plus 25% buyer’s premium and any VAT as well as other service charges. There is no after-auction sale for the stamps and coins catalogues. Viewing of these lots is possible from Monday, November 20 to Friday, November 24, 2023, from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm each day in the gallery (ground floor) of the Rapp Auction House.