Gardiner Houlgate Auctioneers has ramped up its watches division in recent years, leading to it hosting a two day sale from October 24 to 25 (online and in the sale room) with an incredible 530 lots.
The auction is an Aladdin’s cave of horological treasures ranging from grail watches like a Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 from 1964 with the rare Explorer two-tone print dial (estimate £70,000 to £100,000) to bulk boxes of vintage watch movements that might be bought for as little as £40.
Gardiner Houlgate has developed a bit of a reputation for selling vintage Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 watches, with ten variations crossing the block since 2016.
In 2017 the auctioneer sold an identical model to the lot going under the hammer next week when the same rare iteration sold for £162,000 inclusive of fees.
Next week’s lot was bought new in November 1965 by its present owner.
It is described as having a ‘well-worn’ appearance, but beneath the scratched glass is a lovely preserved gloss dial.
Rolex highlights in the auction
(Descriptions and estimates by Gardiner Houlgate)
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Submariner ‘Smurf’
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Submariner ‘Smurf’ 18ct white gold gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 116619LB, serial no. 6K839xxx, circa 2013, blue dial with luminous dot and baton markers, minute markers, date aperture and sweep centre seconds, luminous Mercedes hands, rotating bezel with blue ceramic calibrated insert, cal. 3135 movement, Oyster 18ct white gold bracelet with flip-lock clasp, 40mm bezel.
Estimate £15,000-20,000.
Rolex Submariner ref. 5513
Rare Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch with the 3-6-9 Explorer dial, reference no. 5513, circa 1964, serial no. 1170xxx, black gloss ‘Swiss ‘T<25’ single print dial, with minute markers, hour baton markers, quarter 3-6-9 Arabic numerals.
Gilt and silvered dial printing ‘Rolex Oyster Perpetual 200m=660ft Submariner’, Mercedes hands with sweep centre seconds, Oyster case with a black calibrated bezel insert, crown guards with screw-down crown, calibre 1530 26 jewel movement, the case back stamped ‘5513’ and dated ‘III.64’, Rolex USA jubilee bracelet with 50 end links, case, dial and movement signed, bezel diameter 40mm
Estimate £70,000-100,000
Rare Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer
Rare Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 6150, serial no. 945xxx, circa 1953, gilt ‘Swiss’ dial with quarter Arabic numerals, baton markers, outer minute track with five minute divisions, Mercedes hands with sweep centre seconds, Rolex screw-down crown, A296 18 jewels movement, the ‘bubble’ back dated ‘IV.53’ to the inside, jubilee bracelet with 50 end links, the clasp dated ‘6-75’, 36mm
Estimate £10,000-15,000
Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust
Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch, reference no. 17000, serial no. L902xxx, circa 1989, blue dial with applied baton markers, minute markers, date aperture and centre seconds, cal. 5035 11 jewel adjusted temperature movement, signed inside case stamped 17000, Oyster bracelet, 36mm
Estimate £2,000-3,000
Online bidding is already underway for the Gardiner Houlgate two-day auction, which has an incredible selection of vintage and contemporary pre-owned watches from the likes of Rolex, Omega, Tudor, Breitling, IWC, TAG Heuer, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet, Zenith, Hamilton, Panerai, Oris, Corum, Bremont, Rado, Bulova, Accutron, Seiko, Franck Muller, Ulysse-Nardin and more.
Click here for the full online catalogue and to register and bid.
