Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

Abraham Louis Breguet is generally considered to be the greatest watchmaker of all times, responsible for numerous inventions, which revolutionised the art.

Although Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) is often referred to as the Father of English Clockmaking, his talents were not just limited to clocks.

Among the works of art on sale at Hampel in Munich on March 25-26 is a so-called Pendule au Manège from the early 19th century.

Although the elegant lines of the Cartier Tonneau Curvex wristwatch are the antithesis of today’s macho tool watch, many were used by soldiers in the First World War.

A recent Reeman Dansie sale in Colchester included 80 pieces from the estate of the well-known dealer Jane Sumner, who died last September at the age of 82.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

A 350-lot sale of items from the collection of Lady Mountbatten including jewellery, furniture, paintings, sculptures, books, silver and ceramics will be offered at Sotheby’s on March 24.

Dealers’ online retail site reveals the pocket watches collecting market has become one of the biggest growers.

Cortrie in Hamburg is holding an auction of watches and vintage timepieces on February 13.

The Swiss maker Bovet Fleurier, chartered on May 1, 1822, in London as one of first watch companies to do business in China.

A selection of period and vintage jewellery lots for sale in January, February and March.

Covid-19 has played havoc with the jewellery fairs and auction calendar but it has done little to dull the appetite for quality antique and vintage pieces.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

A notable source of ancient coins and historical jewellery appearing on the market in 2020 has been the soil. It is the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme that finders of ‘treasure’ are now encouraged to declare discoveries and share the proceeds of sales with the landowner.

Estimated at £800-1000 at Adam Partridge (20% buyer’s premium) but sold at £10,000 was this International Watch Company Luftwaffe pilot’s watch, c.1940.

The highlight of a sale of jewellery and silver at Peschetau Badin (27% buyer’s premium) on December 1- 2 in Paris was this gold ‘four dragonflies’ brooch by René Lalique.

Gifts from Queen Victoria to two of her god-daughters garnered international attention at Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge.