Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

The owl had been a symbol of wealth and wisdom since the days of ancient Greece and inspired designers such as Lalique.

The latest sale of Clocks, Watches, & Scientific Instruments held by Bonhams Skinner (25% buyer’s premium) included one of perhaps only 50 surviving Tornek-Rayville TR-900 stainless steel dive watches.

Clock dealer Ben Wright has sold an important English golden age clock following its appearance in the pages and front cover of the Antiques Trade Gazette.

Items collected and meticulously recorded from the 1970s onwards by a trade couple had the attractions of ‘dealer’s choice’ provenances when offered at Hanson Holloway’s Ross (25% buyer’s premium).

He may have been considered ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ but items connected to Lord Byron (1788-1824) make for very welcome auction consignments.

An example of 19th century archaeological revivalist jewellery was one of the best-sellers in the July 8-10 auction at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries (20% buyer’s premium).

The artists’ enclave of Newlyn in Cornwall was not exclusively a colony of painters.

Two Rolex tool watches were estimated to bring £80,000-120,000 each at a recent Fine Watches sale at Bonhams’ (27.5/25% buyer’s premium).

The reference 3330 antimagnetic is one of the rarest pre-Oyster chronographs made by Rolex.

ATG reports on the market for the Enicar series of watches that were taken to Everest

The watch market can be obsessed with brand names – and the best names do come with a price tag to match.

Topping the bill at Dore & Rees in Frome, Somerset on July 6 was this 2in (5cm) archaeological revival brooch by Castellani.

Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans is holding a two-day summer estates sale on July 15-6 which will include French, English and American period furniture and decorative objects, porcelain, clocks, jewellery and original works of art by noted regional artists.

Alan Elliot’s professional life – he ran a world-class provider of time management and communication systems for many years – overlapped with his private interest in collecting clocks.

This late Victorian Garrard & Co pearl and diamond tiara was described by Great Western Auctions in Glasgow as ‘the ultimate in metamorphic jewels’.

A Victorian sapphire, diamond and pearl brooch-pendant was one of two pieces with Indian roots offered for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).

Swaythling auction includes more than 80 pieces of 18th century English origin

On June 23 Bonhams Hong Kong sold a version of Cartier’s first-ever mystery clock: the Model A.

This Art Deco turquoise, rock crystal and black enamelled silver necklace carries the maker’s mark of the celebrated French atelier René Boivin.