Bonhams has beefed up its watch department with the appointment of Jonathan Darracott as head of watches.
Darracott has spent the past 25 years immersed in the world of fine watches, most significantly with over a decade as head of the European watch department at Sotheby’s from 1995 to 2006.
He later spent four years with independent watchmaker, Juvenia Montres in Switzerland, before returning to the UK as after sales director at Breitling and has recently been working as an industry consultant for several luxury watch brands.
During his time at Sotheby’s Darracott was involved in the sale of many classic pieces including the most expensive watch ever sold at auction, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication watch, which sold for $11 million in 1999.
Darracott’s life-long passion for watches started in childhood. He has a BA Honours degree in three dimensional design and studied watch-making in London and Switzerland.
He is a member of the British Horological Institute and a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.
With the market for vintage watches at an all time high, Darracott intends to build on Bonhams’ authority and commercial success in the increasingly competitive market.
“Bonhams watch department has a strong reputation for interesting and high quality sales. My aim is to build on the achievements of the past and take the watch department to new heights.”
Welcoming Jonathan Darracott to his new role, Bonhams chief executive Matthew Girling said: “We have taken great care over this appointment to head up one of our key departments. I am confident that in Jonathan we have found the best person for the job.”
