A private collection of men’s luxury vintage watches comes to auction just in time for Christmas
Dreweatts is delighted to offer a private collection of men’s luxury vintage watches this autumn, just in time for Christmas. The collection has been lovingly put together over the last 40 years by its’ owner and carefully looked after, so that each timepiece is as pristine as when bought. The collection will be presented in a two-day auction at Dreweatts; Part 1 will be a physical live auction on November 24, 2021 with leading luxury wristwatch brands that include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, Tag Heuer, Jaeger Le Coultre, Panerai and Grand Seiko, amongst other highly sought after names.
Part Two will be a timed online sale on November 25, 2021 and will incorporate modern and vintage wristwatches, including Hamilton, Bulova, Seiko and Edox. The collection also has newcomer brands sourced from kickstarter.com, such as REC, which are watches made from recycled and innovative materials, such as classic Porsches, which are also a great passion of the collector.
Estimate £15,000 – £25,000
Speaking about the collection James Nicholson, International Global Head of Jewellery, Silver and Watches at Dreweatts, said: “The owner gained the collecting bug from his father, who was a passionate collector of Chinese and Oriental Art. He fondly recalls being fascinated in his younger days by his grandfather’s two Roskopf pocket watches, which beguiled him with their moving parts. This inspired him to begin his own watch collecting journey when he arrived in London. In 1981, he bought his first two vintage Rolex watches in Portobello Road, including a 9-carat gold Art Deco Rolex Oyster Octagonal cased wristwatch (circa 1928), which is included in this sale.
Estimate £8,000-£12,000
The owner has built his collection around beautiful mechanical pieces and the majority of the watches in the collection have mechanical movements, including brands such as Swatch, which are usually associated with quartz movements”. In the collector’s words: “Watches with Mechanical movements are alive, with hearts that beat to time”.
Estimate £25,000 – £35,000
Amongst those on offer is a rare Omega, Speedmaster Apollo XI (ref. 145022/669), in 18 carat gold, which dates from circa 1969 and carries an estimate of £25,000-£35,000.
A Patek Philippe, Gondolo (ref. 5200G), 18 carat white gold wristwatch in the sale has 8 days power reserve and dates from circa 2018. Offered with full box and papers, it is estimated to fetch £20,000-£30,000. A Patek Philippe Aquanaut (ref. 5167/1A-001), stainless steel automatic bracelet watch, dates from circa 2019 and also comes with full box and papers. It is estimated to fetch £15,000-£25,000.
Other highlights include a Rolex, Submariner ‘Kermit’ (ref. 16610LV) stainless-steel automatic bracelet watch. It dates from circa 2005, comes with full boxes and papers and is estimated to fetch £10,000-£15,000. A Rolex Submariner ‘Hulk’ (ref. 116610LV) stainless steel automatic bracelet watch, dates from circa 2020. It comes with full boxes and papers and is estimated to fetch £8,000-£12,000.
Elsewhere is a Panerai, Luminor Marina (ref. PAM 00140) 18 carat gold automatic wristwatch. It dates from circa 2005, comes with full box and papers and is estimated to fetch £6,000-£8,000. A Blancpain, Le Brassus Complete Calendar GMT (ref. 4276-3642A-55B) 18 carat gold automatic calendar wristwatch dates from circa 2009. It comes with box and papers and is estimated to fetch £5,000-£7,000.
A Tag Heuer, Monaco 50th Anniversary limited edition set of five stainless steel automatic chronograph wrist watches (no 42/50).
Estimate £22,000-£28,00
Also in the sale is a Franck Muller, Conquistador Grand Prix (ref. 9900 SC GP) black titanium and pink gold-coloured automatic wristwatch. It dated from circa 2010, comes with box and papers and is estimated to fetch £4,000-£6,000. A Grand Seiko, Spring Drive (ref. SBGA387) limited edition stainless automatic bracelet watch that was made for the US market (no. 206/558), dates from circa 2018. It comes with full box and papers and carries an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.
An ever-popular Tudor, Fastrider Black Shield (ref. 42000CR) black ceramic automatic chronograph wristwatch is also on offer. It dates from circa 2014, comes with full box and papers and is estimated to fetch £1,500-£2,500.
Last but not least amongst the highlights is a Tag Heuer, Monaco 50th Anniversary limited edition set of five stainless steel automatic chronograph wrist watches (no 42/50). The set dates from circa 2019, comes with full box and papers and is estimated to fetch £22,000-£28,000.