Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

The collection of about 800 engraved gems formed by the nobleman and politician George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739-1817), was the largest and most important of the age.

In the thrifty years after the Wall Street Crash, many Cartier jewels used fewer large diamonds and more colourful secondary stones. What they lost in intrinsic value they more than made up for with the ‘wow’ factor.

Here we feature a selection of very different brooches coming up for sale in the UK regions in July.

Halls’ (23% buyer’s premium) Summer auction in Shrewsbury on June 16 included a private collection of nine pieces of Boucheron jewellery.

The Fine Jewellery sale at Woolley & Wallis on July 15 includes this pair of Burmese ruby and diamond earrings with a family provenance to Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart (née Chaplin), Marchioness of Londonderry (1878-1959).

While the Taylor collection is this summer’s horological focus – “a once in a generation event” is how one dealer described it – plenty of other purchasing opportunities are available for enthusiasts of the best in early English clockmaking.

The first clocks represented the pinnacle of English technology and often lead the way in fashion.

This walnut longcase, c.1710, by Daniel Quare (1648/49-1724) with a month duration movement is priced at £95,000 by Howard Walwyn.

A fine late 17th century ebony veneered quarter repeating table timepiece by the father of English clockmaking, Thomas Tompion, leads Bonhams’ Fine Clocks sale in London on June 22.

John Ebsworth was in the first rank of early makers who were working during the last quarter of the 17th century.

This Victorian gilt-brass month-going tripod clock by Thomas Cole is engraved with a dedication dated July 6, 1861, from the Marchioness of Anglesey as a birthday present to her husband, the 2nd Marquess of Anglesey.

Scarce variations of the classic dress watch come to market as interest rises in vintage Cartier

Tennants’ recent sale of Jewellery, Watches & Silver included, at a top-estimate £9000, a rare Omega aviator’s watch.

In these days of the internet search engine and the live bidding platform, it is reassuring to know that bargains are still out there.

The first tranche of one of the finest English clock collections in private hands comes for sale in London and Winchester this summer

This Omega Seamaster 300, issued to members of the British Army in the 1960s, appeared at Fellows (23%/15% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.

After a decade riding a market wave, ‘original owner’ Rolex tool watches are increasingly scarce at auction.

The silvered dial to this 1960s stainless steel bracelet watch gives a clue to its former owner.