June Fine Watches

The June watch auction featured a fantastic array of wristwatches and pocket watches. From present-day collectors wristwatches, to mid century dress watches, designer watches, and historical pocket watches, this sale had something to suit every brief. With bidders registered across three online bidding platforms, phone bidders and plenty of commission bids, our Watches section of the sale sold incredibly well. We are currently accepting entries for our forthcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches Sale, with some fantastic pieces already consigned, so get in touch with us to include your unworn pieces into this sale.  

A bi-colour Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch, circa 2002, sold for £9,760. 

Top-seller on the day was this fantastic Rolex Daytona. A real sought-after and collectible piece, this impressive steel and gold model attracted a huge amount of pre-sale interest. This eye-catching piece was the significant 116523 model, launched in 2000 as the first Daytona with a movement produced in-house by Rolex. Featuring the calibre 4130 automatic movement, this wristwatch boasts 28,800 beats per hour. Interestingly, prior to this model, Daytonas were ran on on a calibre 4030 which was a modified Zenith El Primero movement. 

 Left: A 1960s stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, circa 1962, sold for £2,318.

Right: A 1950s 9ct gold cased Rolex Precision wristwatch, sold for £1,342.

Other Rolex wristwatches to impress our bidders dated to the mid 20th century, in the form of elegant and timeless gents dress watches in stainless steel and 9ct gold cases. A 1960s stainless steel Oyster Perpetual wristwatch with a calibre 1560, 26 jewel movement fetched £2,318. In use for a relatively short amount of time, the 1560 calibre movement was in production from 1959 until 1965 and was used in the Submariner 5512, the Oyster Perpetual, and the Rolex Explorer 1060.

Meanwhile, a 1950s 9ct gold Rolex Precision wristwatch with calibre 1210, 17 jewel movement went to a phone bidder for £1,342. Bearing hallmarks for 1954, this wonderful piece was an early example of the Rolex Precision line, which was offered from the 1950s until the late 1970s with a variety of different dials and movements.

A 9ct gold Omega De Ville automatic watch, cal 1012, sold for £976.

Our selection of Omega wristwatches also sold well, with a 9ct gold Omega De Ville watch attracting the most interest from our bidders. Dating to the 1970s, this classic timepiece boasted a beautiful 9ct gold bracelet and original certificate.

The pocket watches section sold exceptionally well, with every piece offered selling over estimate. Boasting the most provenance from the pocket watches was a remarkable 18ct gold pocket watch by J.W. Benson, gifted by the colourful Canaevonshire landowner and Liberal politician Sir Thomas Love Jones-Parry to his sister in 1868. Bearing some exceptional enamel work to front and back case, as well as personal inscription to ths inside of the case, this beautiful timepiece attracted huge interest from Welsh collectors and finally settled at £2,074. Read more about the history of this remarkable pocket watch here.  

A late 19th century 18ct gold enamel hunter pocket watch, the 18ct gold case bearing vari shade enamel decoration, one side a monogram, and the other coat of arms and 'y ddraig goch a ddyry gychwyn' motto (the red dragon inspires action) with roman numeral markers, unsigned keyless movement, inner case signed 'J.W. Benson by special appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales, 25 Old Bond Street' case, sold for £2,074.

Another fascinating pocket watch to sell was this 18ct gold full hunter pocket watch by Swiss watchmaker Buren, but retailed by Randles bro & Hudson Ltd in Durban, this international little pocket watch finally sold to a local collector for £1,098.

An 18ct gold full hunter pocket watch by Buren, sold for £1,098.

View the full Sale Results here. 

Please note, prices stated are inclusive of Buyer's Premium.

We are currently accepting entries for our next Fine Jewellery & Watches Sale, taking place on Thursday 17th September. To obtain a free, confidential and up-to-date valuation of your own collection, fill in our online valuation form or contact our specialist liz.bailey@wilson55.com.