Watches & Watch accessories

For many years, to be a watch collector was to collect pocket watches from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. Today it is more likely to signal an interest in 20th and 21st century wristwatches by well-known brands or specialist makers. Search this category for everything from the finest Swiss gold and enamel chronometers to the battle-worn Rolex of an RAF pilot.


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McTear’s holds dedicated military watch auction

11 September 2017

Glasgow saleroom McTear’s holds a dedicated military watch auction on September 19. Most entries are from a private collection and include watches from the so-called ‘Dirty Dozen’ – the 12 Swiss manufacturers commissioned to supply the British Ministry of Defence during the Second World War.

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Bidders stretch to top estimate

11 September 2017

Breathing quality, this 22ct gold, pocket watch, below, was by an apparently unrecorded maker but nevertheless pitched at a positive £3000-3200 at Tamlyns’ (18% buyer’s premium) sale at Bridgwater on August 30.

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Cartier and Deco: Essex sale’s winning combinations

04 September 2017

A 1920s-30s 18ct gold Cartier cigarette lighter-cum-watch with black enamel dial was offered at Boningtons (17.5% buyer’s premium) at Epping on August 21.

Newman

Original ‘Paul Newman’ Rolex Daytona goes under the hammer at Phillips

30 August 2017

A Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ once owned by the actor himself will go under the hammer in New York in October.

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British Horological Institute launches a clocks and watches fair at its Nottinghamshire headquarters

28 August 2017

A horological story rarely makes the national news, but the announcement that Big Ben is falling silent until 2021 as major conservation work begins rang loud and clear in headlines.

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Phillips launches its dedicated watch division in the US

03 July 2017

Ahead of the autumn sale of a star lot, Phillips' watch expert Aurel Bacs tells ATG why the time is right for the firm to expand its US watch business

Stolen watches

Police call on antiques trade to help find stolen jewellery from Shropshire antique centre

28 June 2017

Police are appealing to the trade to help locate jewellery stolen in Shropshire.

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Clocks and watches: craftsmanship with precision timing

12 June 2017

ATG's special report on horological highlights with superb examples of modern craftsmanship, auction previews and results, and the world of wall clocks described by expert Edward Burd...

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Rare Rolex Submariner wristwatch takes £135,000 at Bath auction

12 June 2017

For the serious collector of vintage Rolex Submariner wristwatches, the devil is in the dial detail. Dial variations found in this watch model were produced in low numbers and are therefore highly sought after.

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Bakelite watch survives ravages of time

12 June 2017

In 1953 Pan Am Airlines approached Rolex with a request for a watch that could show the time simultaneously in two different time zones.

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French film stars collection up for auction in Paris

05 June 2017

Yves Montand (1921-91) and Simone Signoret (1921-85) were famous French husband-and-wife actors with starring roles in many French films.

Phillips

Rolex record set at Phillips auction for Vietnamese Emperor's watch

15 May 2017

A new record has been set for a rare Rolex watch once owned by the last Emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai.

Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy’s watch and painting head to auction in New York

12 May 2017

Jackie Kennedy’s Cartier watch and a rediscovered painting are on offer as part of Christie’s 'Rare Watches and American Icons' sale in New York.

verge pocket watch

British pocket watches to feature in sale of local man’s collection at The Canterbury Auction Galleries

24 March 2017

An 18th century gold-coloured pocket watch is among the lots expected to lead one collection in The Canterbury Auction Galleries’ upcoming auction.

William Ilbery gold watch

Outstanding gold timepiece by “the father of Chinese watches” comes to auction

20 March 2017

Numerous 18th and 19th century watchmakers in Geneva and London made their living by manufacturing watches for the Chinese market, many destined for the Chinese Emperor and members of his court. One of the pioneers in this field was William Ilbery who was active in London from about 1780 until his death in 1839.

Patek Philippe Reference 1518

Phillips Auction House sets £7.7m auction record for wristwatch with rare Patek Philippe

14 November 2016

Phillips set a record price for a wristwatch sold at auction over the weekend when a Patek Philippe Reference 1518 was knocked down for SFr9.6m (£7.7m).

Rolex

Rare Rolex takes £140,000 at auction

02 November 2016

A Rolex watch that was bought in 1966 for £69.10 has sold at auction for £140,000. The rare Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner stainless steel model is highly desired by collectors due to its 3-6-9 Explorer dial.

John Arnold watch at Sotheby’s

Perfect timing – John Arnold pocket watch fetches £460,000 record

21 July 2016

Sotheby’s established an auction record for a watch by John Arnold (1736-99) when a large silver pocket chronometer of 1781 sold at £460,000.

The Rolex Submariner came with an Explorer 3-6-9 gloss dial and its box and booklet.

Rolex sets record at regional sale

26 May 2016

A rare Rolex Submariner took a record £160,000 plus buyer’s premium at a Gardiner Houlgate sale in Wiltshire on May 25.

Bonhams launch online-only auctions with single-owner watch sale

24 May 2016

Bonhams are launching into the internet-only auction arena with a timed sale of watches from a single-owner collection of a European nobleman.

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