Bonhams is racing to the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month with a catalogue of watches with attachment to the motoring world.
Headlining the horological side of an on-site Bonhams Collectors Motorcar and Automobile auction will be an 18ct gold Mido for Bugatti wristwatch made during the dawn of the automotive industry in around 1925.
The Bugatti watch, dating from the Art Deco era, is made to look like the distinctive horseshoe-shaped radiator of the maker’s cars from that period.
It was formerly owned by Colonel W. L. Sorel, who was general manager of Bugatti cars in the UK in the 1920s.
The rare timepiece will be part of the Bonhams Collectors Motorcar and Automobile sale at Goodwood, which takes place on July 14.
It has a pre-sale estimate of £50,000 to £80,000.
“There is extensive interest in such an important and sought after Mido for Bugatti timepiece from the first series commissioned by Ettore Bugatti which is rarely seen at auction. The wristwatch is unique in both design and horology history with very few examples now remaining. Goodwood Festival of Speed is an opportunity to purchase an unforgettable timepiece with unquestionable provenance of automobilia heritage,” says Jonathan Darracott, Bonhams global head of watches.
Bonhams’ description of the gold Mido for Bugatti manual wind wristwatch says it has serial number 200753 and was produced in 1925.
The timepiece has a silvered radiator grille design dial and Arabic numeral hour markers and blue steel Breguet style hands.
The polished Bugatti radiator form case has a hinged back, wire lugs and red enamel Bugatti logo at 12.
Mido records confirm that the first of the four series of Bugatti watch they produced consisted of 54 pieces with serial numbers 200736-200789 produced in 1925-26.
Fewer than 20 examples are believed to have survived to today.
The first series of the Mido watches were commissioned by Ettore Bugatti and given as gifts to racing drivers and principal members of his factory staff.
It is known that eight of these watches belonged to esteemed names within the motorsport world from Ettore Bugatti himself to racing drivers René Dreyfus, Rudolf Caracciola and Louis Chiron.
Bonhams has a preview of the watches at its New Bond Street Fine Watches sale on June 18, before it heads to Goodwood for the July 14 vintage car auction.
