Bonhams has unveiled the top lots for its next watch auction, which takes place online on February 21 and at its Knightsbridge showroom.
The sale, titled Watches and Wristwatches Including the Collection of a European Nobleman, includes rare and important vintage pieces as well as desirable modern items.
The auction house identified the following six lots as particularly exciting for the event.
Rolex stainless steel manual wind chronograph wristwatch with stepped hooded lugs
(Pictured top)
In 1937 Rolex launched a series of non-Oyster snap on case back watches with the references 2916, 2917, 2918, 2919, 2920 and 2937. It is believed that the production number of each was very limited and could be less than 30 per a reference. They can be identified by their unusual avant-garde case designs and oval chronograph buttons.
Estimate £6000-8000
Reference: 2917
Date: Circa 1938
Movement: Jewelled manual wind, column wheel chronograph
Dial: Silvered, gilt Arabic numerals, black outer 1/5th second divisions and tachymetre scale, subsidiary dials at 3 and 9 for seconds and 30 minute recording, blued steel leaf hands, centre chronograph hand
Case: Polished round, snap on back, flared stepped hooded lugs, crown flanked by twin oval buttons, No.031***
Strap/Bracelet: Brown crocodile leather
Buckle/Clasp: Polished buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 33mm
Rolex  stainless steel manual wind chronograph wristwatch
Rolex produced only a limited handful of Oyster chronographs featuring just the 30 minute register as opposed to including a 12 hour register as well. First introduced in the 1940s, the reference 4500 is one of these rare chronographs and was available to purchase in 4 materials – yellow gold, rose gold, steel and – as with the current lot – steel and gold.
Estimate £6000-8000
Reference: 4500
Date: Circa 1946
Movement: 17-jewel manual wind, column wheel chronograph
Dial: Silvered, baton hour markers, Arabic numeral 6 and 12, black outer 1/5th second divisions with Arabic five minute markers, subsidiary dials at 3 and 9 for seconds and 30 minute recording, blued steel pointed baton hands with luminous inserts, centre chronograph hand
Case: Brushed and polished round, screw down back, screw down crown flanked by twin pushers, No.497***
Strap/Bracelet: Black leather
Buckle/Clasp: Polished buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 36mm
Patek Philippe 18K gold automatic oval form wristwatch retailed by Arte Suizo
Estimate £5000-7000
Reference: 3594
Date: Circa 1972
Movement: 36-jewel Cal.28-255C automatic, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, 21K gold rotor segment, No.1282624
Dial: Champagne signed Arte Suizo, black Roman numerals, polished pointed baton hands
Case: Brushed oval, snap on back, stepped textured bezel, No.523744
Strap/Bracelet: Integral bark finish 18K gold
Buckle/Clasp: Signed 18K gold folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 33mm x 38mm
Accompaniments: Patek Philippe box
Omega stainless steel automatic watch
£5,000-7,000
Model: Seamaster 300
Reference: 165024-64 SC
Date: Circa 1964
Movement: 24-jewel Cal.552 automatic, No.22616130
Dial: Black, luminous baton hour markers, Arabic numeral quarters, white outer minute divisions, polished pointed hands with luminous inserts, white centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau, screw down back, faceted lugs, bi-directional military style bezel with black calibrated insert
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 41mm
Patek Philippe. An 18K rose gold tonneau form manual wind bracelet watch
Estimate: £4,000-6,000
Model: Gondolo
Reference: 3842R
Date: Circa 1995
Movement: 18-jewel Cal.177 manual wind, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, No.1378470
Dial: Silvered, applied gilt Arabic numerals, gilt dot outer minute divisions, polished gilt moon hands
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, snap on back secured by 1 screw, No.2988821
Strap/Bracelet: Integral polished graduated ‘rice grain’ link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed 18K gold folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 29mm
Accompaniments: Patek Philippe box
Franck Muller lady’s 18K white gold and diamond set quartz rectangular wristwatch
Estimate: £4,000-6,000
Model: Long Island
Reference: 902QZ
Date: Circa 2008
Movement: Jewelled quartz
Dial: Guilloché engraved silvered, black Arabic numerals, black inner minute track with five minute markers, blued steel spade hands
Case: Brushed and polished rectangular, back secured by 4 screws, diamond set bezel and lugs, No.2568
Strap/Bracelet: Black Franck Muller alligator leather
Buckle/Clasp: Signed 18K white gold buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 23mm x 31mm
Accompaniments: Franck Muller box, outer card, blank Certificate of Origin
