Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

Little is known about the biography of the German watchmaker Sigismund Rentzsch, who came to London in the early 19th century, where he set up a workshop.

Perhaps the finest assemblage of English clocks in private hands goes on sale in the summer at Winchester dealership Carter Marsh.

In the latest of our occasional series of collector interviews, ATG talks to a young collector who not only buys clocks and watches but is also a horological apprentice.

Dawsons’ (23% buyer’s premium) dedicated Jewellery, Watches & Silver auction in Maidenhead on March 11 included two unusual signed pieces by flavour-of-the-month Andrew Grima (1921-2007).

Jewellery by the Anglo-German firm Murrle Bennett, which thrived for two decades before the First World War, appeals today for the reasons it did in the early 20th century.

Sotheby’s sold the collection of Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma at the end of last month.

A spectacular parure of sapphires and diamonds, from the collection of Napoleon’s adoptive daughter, Stephanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden (1789-1860), is for sale at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on May 12.

The Islamic and Indian Art sale at Bonhams (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) in London on March 30 included this diamond and emerald set forehead pendant (chand-tikka) from the collection of Maharani Jindan Kaur (1817-63).

The popularity of the tiara, that reached its peak in the decades before the onset of the First World War when diamonds from South Africa were in plentiful supply, has fluctuated across the 20th century in line with prosperity and fashion.

Better late than never, Woolley & Wallis will get to hold its January jewellery sale this month – on April 29.

How a firm of importers brought Jugendstil jewellery to Britain – with the help of a little German efficiency

For the famous English socialite Anne Parsons, Countess of Rosse (1902-92), appearances certainly mattered – and she was known to use eye-catching jewels to accentuate her own beauty.

Kingham & Orme’s (23% buyer’s premium) first-ever specialist auction of Jewellery & Watches took place on February 19 with just over 200 lots.

A recent Fine Jewellery sale at Fellows (23% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham included an unusual Victorian necklace.

The work of French designer Fred Brouard (1944-99) is not uncommon at sales in France and the US but seldom appears at auction in the UK.

Peter Closon (c.1594-c.1662) was one of the most prolific of the so-called First Period lantern clock makers – although little is known about his life.

Alex Stevens began selling collectables aged 14, going on to specialise in vintage wristwatches. He launched Alex Stevens Vintage in late 2020.

Metal detectorist’s discovery linked to flamboyant earl who was a favourite of Elizabeth I