Fellows auction house in Birmingham has been named one of Forbes’ top five houses for buying and selling timepieces at auction, selected by watch writer Ariel Adams.
Fellows was selected alongside international houses Christie’s, Bonhams, Antiquorum and Sotheby’s, covering auction houses with watch departments and specialist watch-only auctioneers as is Antiquorum.
Adams, who runs the site A Blog to Watch, said of his list: “It really has a lot to do with reputation among collectors and being able to properly identify and value rare timepieces.
“The best watch auctioneers also know how to put on a fantastic show. Media spectacle and having very desirable pieces go a long way in drawing eyes for even mundane lots that are included in events.”
Forbes’ top five watch auction houses, as selected by Ariel Adams:
1 Christie’s
Chosen for putting a lot of resources into its dedicated watch department over the last few years. Christie’s has had some highly valuable watches available, with equally impressive final hammer prices.
2 Antiquorum
Dubbed “no better place” for watch and clock dedicated auctions. Antiquorum wins the attention of the world’s top watch collectors. The house was also praised by Adams for its media drive and events that win it even greater awareness.
3 Sotheby’s
Praised for establishing a dedicated watch department.
4 Bonhams
Though very well known for automobile auctions, Bonhams was commended for the time it has invested in its watch department of late.
5 Fellows
Praised for having the website name watchauctions.co.uk, which Adams said “should tell you what they are trying to focus on”. He said: “Instead of going directly head-to-head with the competitors, Fellows focuses on less expensive lots with final prices that are usually £10,000 and under. It is a great place for new collectors to build up a collection”.
