GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Sales are strictly for immediate payment in euros.
The successful bidder shall be the highest and final bidder. In addition to the hammer price, the buyer must pay a buyer’s premium of 28% inclusive of all taxes (a 23.3% premium plus 20% VAT); this rate also applies to the sale of books, which are subject to 5.5% VAT.
Items are sold in their current condition. As a public viewing is held beforehand, allowing prospective buyers to assess the condition of the items, no claims will be accepted once the hammer has fallen.
Descriptions provided in the catalogue are the responsibility of NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS; any corrections may be announced at the time the item is presented and will be recorded in the official sale minutes.
In the event of a dispute at the time of the hammer fall, or in the event of a tie in bidding, the lot shall be immediately re-offered for sale at the price previously reached, and the entire audience shall be permitted to bid again. In the event of a tie in bidding via the Drouot Live platform, the operator shall inform the auctioneer of the successful bidder.
For sales of paintings and furniture: dimensions, weights, and estimates are provided for guidance only. Relining, cradling, backing, or overpainting are considered conservation measures rather than defects or flaws.
For sales of jewellery and gemstones: gemstones may have undergone treatments intended to enhance their appearance. Such processes may be of significant age—for example, the oiling of emeralds, the heat treatment of rubies and sapphires, or the bleaching of pearls. These treatments are so common that, unless otherwise stated, it should be assumed that all such stones have been treated.
Stones presented without a certificate are sold without any guarantee regarding potential treatments.
For gemstones and pearls sold with a laboratory certificate, please note that the stated origin and quality reflect the opinion of the issuing laboratory. No claims will be accepted should another laboratory provide a different assessment; such a discrepancy shall not engage the liability of NOUEL ET ASSOCIES.
Regarding the sale of watches: restorations, modifications, technical specifications, serial numbers, dimensions, and weights are provided to the best of our ability and knowledge. This information is given for guidance only—to assist potential buyers in their own inspection—and remains subject to the buyer’s personal judgment. Neither the auctioneer nor the expert shall be held liable for any omissions that may persist despite the precautions taken. The absence of a specific notation does not imply that a watch is free from defects.
Any servicing, adjustments, or water-resistance testing are the sole responsibility of the purchaser. No claims may be made following the fall of the hammer if the buyer—or their watchmaker—alters the settings, modifies the water-resistance, or opens the watch case in any way that might change the condition of the timepiece as it was at the time of the sale.
No guarantees are provided regarding the condition of the watches or their straps/bracelets.
No claims will be accepted once the lot has been sold (i.e., after the fall of the hammer).
TRANSPORT OF LOTS / EXPORT
Once the hammer falls, purchased items become the sole responsibility of the buyer; NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS assumes no liability for storage, transport, or any associated costs. Lots will be held by the Hôtel Drouot storage service. This service incurs additional charges, which are to be paid by the buyer.
Information, terms, and rates can be found online at: https://drouot.com/fr/magasinage
Smaller lots may be kept on the premises of NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS. After a period of fifteen days, a storage fee of €3 (including tax) per day, per lot, will be applied.
Please note that NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS does not provide shipping services for any lots.
The removal of a lot from French territory may be subject to an export certificate for cultural property (pursuant to Article L 111-2 of the French Heritage Code). NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS shall not be held liable for any delays in the issuance of an export certificate, nor for any refusal by the authorities to grant such a certificate. Such a delay or refusal does not constitute grounds for canceling the sale or delaying payment.
PAYMENT / DEFAULT OF PAYMENT
No lot shall be released to the buyer until the full amount due has been paid. In the event of payment by bank check, ownership of the item shall only be transferred once the check has been cleared; items will be released 15 days after settlement. Payment by a check with insufficient funds or a failure to pay shall not render NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS liable; consequently, the firm is released from any obligation to remit payment to the seller. In the event of non-payment, the item may be put up for auction again (resold at the buyer’s risk and expense). Payment for items, including any applicable taxes, must be made in the same currency—specifically, in euros. Any bank charges incurred from payments originating abroad—whether by bank check, credit/debit card, or bank transfer—shall be borne by the buyer.
Cash payments (including taxes and fees) are limited to €1,000 for French residents and €15,000 for non-residents, subject to the provision of proof of identity (Decree no. 2015-741 of June 24, 2015). If the hammer price and associated fees are not paid, a formal notice (mise en demeure) will be sent to the buyer via registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, at the buyer’s expense. If, one month after this formal notice, the amount due remains unpaid, an additional fee—equal to 10% of the hammer price (with a minimum of €300, including tax)—shall be charged to the buyer to cover collection costs. The application of this provision does not preclude the awarding of damages and the recovery of legal costs incurred in any necessary proceedings, nor does it prejudice the potential initiation of a *folle enchère* (resale by auction due to a successful bidder’s default) procedure.
NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS is a member of the auctioneers’ central registry for the prevention of non-payment (Registre central de prévention des impayés), in which payment defaults may be recorded.
The debtor concerned may exercise their rights of access, rectification, and objection (on legitimate grounds) by contacting Symev, located at 15 rue Freycinet, 75016 Paris.
Payment methods:
- BANK TRANSFER:
Bank details (RIB) are provided on the purchase invoice.
- CREDIT/DEBIT CARD:
Accepted only on-site at our premises (remote card payments are not possible : no distance payment link).
- CASH:
Subject to legal limits.
For lots under temporary importation, a 5.5% tax will be payable by the buyer. Any lot under temporary importation will be marked with an asterisk (*) in the catalogue.
ABSENTEE BIDS (PURCHASE ORDERS)
The auction house NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS and the expert may execute absentee bids at no additional cost.
To do so, a written request must be submitted 24 hours before the auction session.
Requests may also be sent via email to contact@nouel-associes.com,
accompanied by a form of identification and a bank account statement (RIB).
Telephone bidding: buyers wishing to be called during the sale should use the provided form, subject to the conditions stated above.
Absentee bids are offered as a convenience to clients; NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS shall not be held liable for any failure to execute a bid, whether due to error or any other cause.
Large items purchased via absentee bid will be held at the Hôtel Drouot storage facility (subject to their applicable terms and conditions).
Smaller items may be kept at the premises of NOUEL ET ASSOCIÉS. After a period of fifteen days, a storage fee of €3 (inclusive of tax) per day, per lot, will be charged.
ONLINE PURCHASES VIA THE DROUOT LIVE PLATFORM
For any purchase made via Drouot Live, an additional fee of 1.8% (inclusive of tax)—equivalent to 1.5% (exclusive of tax)—will be applied and added to the purchase invoice; this also applies to "secret absentee bids" (ordres d'achat secrets) placed on the platform.
