There has never been a better time to check the catalogs of regional auction houses for hidden timekeeping treasures.
Watches have far more realistic estimates than during the secondary market boom, and the volume of vintage and contemporary pre-owned pieces coming to market has rarely been higher.
Gardiner Houlgate, based in the southwest of England, has established itself as one of the UK’s leading watch specialists.
Its next auctions, which take place on February 19 for pocket watches and February 20 for wristwatches, have timepieces ranging in price from a few hundred pounds for vintage Omegas, Cartiers and Breitlings up to £20,000 to £30,000 for a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller ‘Double Red’ Submariner.
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Star lots at the Gardiner Houlgate auction include:
(descriptions by the auctioneer)
Fine Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller ‘Double Red’ Submariner 2000 stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 1665, serial no. 1721xxx, circa 1967/68, black matt ‘Swiss-T<25’ dial with dot, baton and dagger markers, minute markers, date aperture and sweep centre seconds, Mercedes hands, black insert bi-directional rotating bezel, screw-down Triplock crown with guards, cal. 1570 26 jewel movement, screw back dated ‘IV.67’, engraved ‘Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escape Valve’, ref. 9315 Oyster bracelet with ‘282’ end links and flip-lock clasp dated 1.72′, the bezel 39.5mm diameter.
Estimate: £20,000 to £30,000
Longines Greenlander British Military issue stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch, reference 8707, serial no. 7006xxx, circa 1945, the black dial with Arabic numerals, dot markers, minute track and luminous set Cathedral hands, with Military arrow over subsidiary seconds, cal. 12.68Z 15 jewel gilt movement, the case with fixed bars, screw back with Military arrow and issue markings ‘WWW F86xx 23088 4929’, black leather strap, 37mm.
Estimate: £2,000 to £3,000
Heuer Autavia Skipper Chronograph stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 73463, serial no. 263xxx, circular blue dial with applied baton markers, minute and seconds markers, subsidiary constant seconds and large tri-colour fifteen minute yacht regatta timer dials, date aperture at the six position and orange chronograph centre seconds, orange hands, blue rotating bezel with five minute and hour divisions, Heuer crown, Heuer Leonidas SA cal. 7734 17 jewel unadjusted movement, inside case signed Heuer-Leonidas SA, modern black leather strap, 42mm.
Estimate: £4,000 to £6,000
Rare Breitling for Bentley Mark VI Special Edition Chronograph Chronometer automatic 18ct rose gold gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. H2636212, serial no. 2122xxx, circa 2007, special edition no. 4xx of 500 pieces produced, brown dial, Breitling brown leather strap with signed 18ct buckle. 41mm bezel.
Estimate: £7,000 to £10,000
Patek Philippe Calatrava 18ct gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 3919, hobnail bezel, white dial with Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial, signed crown, calibre 215PS movement, Patek Philippe black leather strap with signed 18ct buckle, 34mm.
Estimate: £4,500 to £6,500
Rare Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date GMT-Master II ‘Sea-King’ Military Limited Edition stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 116710LN, serial no. 52C7xxxx, circa 2013, limited edition no. 1xx/123, black dial with black inserted rotating bezel, cal. 3186 31 jewel movement, the case back with Sea King helicopter engraving, Oyster bracelet with flip-lock clasp, 40mm.
Estimate £24,000 to £28,000
Rare Omega Seamaster 300 ‘Big Triangle’ automatic stainless steel gentlemen’s wristwatch, reference no. 166.024, serial no. 27971xxx, circa 1968, fixed ‘wide triangle’ bakelite bezel insert, black dial with ‘big triangle’, luminous baton markers, minute markers, date aperture, sword hands with a white tipped centre seconds hand, screw-down crown, cal. 565 24 jewel movement, rare misprinted ‘HF’ (Huguenin Freres) ‘Speedmaster’ case back, black rubber band, 40mm.
Estimate: £2,500 to £3,500.
