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It is eight days before ’ biggest watch auction of the year—the taking place in Geneva Nov. 8-9—and , the auctioneer who, together with his wife and partner, Livia Russo, founded the house’s watch department in November 2014, is a bundle of nervous energy. “Anything can go left or right in the next eight days,” he tells Robb Report on a video call from his office in Geneva. “I’m sitting on a keg of dynamite.”

“I had a crowned head of state text me a week ago and say, ‘Aurel, it’s now the third time I’m going through your catalog. This is the Godzilla of watch auctions,’” Bacs adds. “It didn’t sound very elegant, but it sounded as if he found it impres

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