Maintaining momentum in an auction market that is dogged with recent controversies and suffering a significant drop in demand is far from easy.
Expecting top dollar for anything that looks like it might be found cheaper on myriad secondary market platforms is doomed.
Bonhams is showing how to keep collectors’ interest piqued with its Fine Watches sale, online and in the New Bond Street sale room, with some headline-grabbing lots with attractive estimates including highly desirable quirky pieces from Cartier London and a George Daniels Millennium from 1999.
They are sold alongside the usual suspects from Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe and Breguet.
George Daniels work is within the shortening list of watches that still command attention, but a pre-sale estimate of £400,000 to £600,000 is beyond cautious, so should get interest from multiple bidders hoping to secure one of only 50 Millennials made between George Daniels and Roger Smith.
The 18ct gold automatic watch, with the Daniels co-axial escapement, has an engine-turned silvered dial with black roman numerals, black outer minute markers and gold subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock for calendar markers.
Two of Cartier London’s iconic watches: one a Crash, the other a Baignoire, will also have collectors reaching for their paddles.
The watch on offer is a rare and unusual Cartier Crash reference 015-91, 18ct gold manual wind wristwatch, circa 1991, made as part of the Paris 1991 edition.
It is offered with an estimate of £80,000 to £120,000, a far cry from the record price paid at the Sotheby’s Important Watches: Part I auction, which took place in Geneva in the autumn of 2021, when a 1970 Cartier Crash sold for $884,972.
Star lots at the Bonhams Fine Watches sale
Cartier Crash, circa 1991, reference 015-91, estimate of £80,000 to £120,000.
An unusual F.P. Journe souverain dead second tourbillon with remontoir (or constant force) creating an extraordinary array of mechanical complications, reference 05-TN, circa 2005.
The platinum manual wind tourbillon constant force wristwatch with rare dead seconds, remontoir and power reserve.
The exceptional watch is offered with an estimate of £180,000 to £220,000.
A Rolex Comex Submariner reference 5514, circa 1978.
The rare stainless-steel automatic calendar bracelet watch features a black dial with luminous dot hour markers with a brushed and polished tonneau case.
Offered with an estimate of £180,000 to £220,000.
A rare Cartier Baignoire, circa 1969. The 18K gold manual wind wristwatch from the London workshops with cream dial is offered with an estimate of £80,000 to £120,000.
A Breguet Classique complications perpetual calendar tourbillon wristwatch, reference 3797, circa 2014.
The rare 18K rose gold manual wind watch features a Guilloché engraved silvered dial with Roman numeral hours, subsidiary dials for the days and month, with a retrograde date.
Offered with an estimate of £60,000 to £80,000.
