A George Daniels Millennium watch has achieved a record-breaking price at Bonhams’ June sale of Fine Watches and Wristwatches.
While the sale achieved a total of £1.5million, the 18ct yellow gold George Daniels Millennium (Lot 166) produced in 1999 sold for £146,500 including premiums.
Only seven examples of the 37mm watch in this metal were ever made by Daniels on the Isle of Man, and this example was presented with fitted box, papers and letters signed by George Daniels.
The watch achieved more than double its pre-sale estimate, setting a new world record for a Millennium watch at auction.
The hand-made automatic watch with centre seconds and date subdial featured Daniels’ own Co-Axial escapement, a development that was later acquired by Omega.
Another world record was also achieved at the auction with the sale of a Rolex automatic bracelet watch with roulette date wheel, which sold for £18,750, over six times its highest estimated value.
