Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

MADAM – I think the increased interest and associated rise in value of vintage and collectable watches means auction houses really need to up their game both in terms of what they’re selling and how they are describing lots.

Holker Hall, the privately owned country house in Cumbria, hosts its first fair in nearly 25 years this month.

Specialists who relaunched North Yorkshire auction house generate old-school optimism.

A pendulum clock used in an early longitude trial will be offered for sale by Dreweatts next month.

An iconographic gold ring – perhaps once belonging to a bishop or senior member of the clergy in the Yorkshire area – sold for £7100 at Hansons (20% buyer’s premium) in Etwall, Derbyshire.

A set of five Victorian diamond six-point star brooches sold for £26,000 at Golding Young & Mawer (20% buyer’s premium) on January 24. As each star has a hook fitting and a screw fitting for attachment, the set was probably once part of a suite consisting of frames for a tiara, necklace, earrings and brooches.

The December 6 jewellery sale at Roseberys (23% buyer’s premium) was the maiden auction for new head of department Mark Bowis.

Contemporary jewellery designer Wendy Ramshaw’s earlier work, including her signature ring stacks first made in 1967, is coming back onto the market.

Among the most desirable of all Second World War wristwatches – a strong suit in this currently hot collecting arena – is the Panerai 3646. This distinctive model was initially intended for the Royal Italian Navy but was also used by German submariners or Kampfschwimmer.

Jewellery specialist Joanna Hardy is usually found in glamorous locations.

The history of the Kutchinsky jewellery brand dates back to 1893 – the year Hirsch Kutchinsky and son Morris arrived in the East End of London, having fled Poland.

A selection of jewellery and watch previews from around the salerooms, including the recent discovery of an intriguing coronet at Dix Noonan Webb...

Deemed a little ostentatious in some Western circles, tiaras remain popular with the so-called ‘new’ markets.