There is something for every watch collector and enthusiast at the upcoming Bonhams Watches and Wristwatch sale, which takes place tomorrow, February 22, online and at the auctioneer’s Knightsbridge sale room.
There are 180 lots in the auction covering almost five centuries of watchmaking from a 1650 silver pocket watch to a 2021 Bamford Popeye GMT wristwatch.
Along with the historic, rare and unusual , the sale will be dominated with 20th and 21st century classics from the period’s most prolific Swiss watchmaker, Rolex.
Highlights include
Rolex. Submariner
Ref: 5513/5517
Circa 1975
estimate £40,000 – 60,000
In the early 1970s, the British Ministry of Defence commissioned a very limited batch of Rolex reference 5513 Submariners, designed to enhanced specifications to meet the demands of their Special Forces.
Features include thicker, sword-shaped hands for enhanced legibility, a rotating bezel calibrated to 60 minutes, an encircled “T” on the dial indicating the use of luminescent Tritium, and solid steel bars fixed between the lugs.
This pieces is being sold by a former member of the Royal Navy who had a 27-year Royal Navy career, during which he was recipient of the Royal Humane Society award in 1975 and the Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1981.
Rolex GMT Master, Ref: 6542
Purchased 18th December 1957
Estimate £40,000 – 60,000
Originally designed to enable PanAm pilots to see two different time-zones at a glance, the Rolex GMT soon became favoured among business travellers in general. This reference was also worn by Honour Blackman as Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
This example has the immediately recognisable bright Bakelite bezels of the early models. The delicate nature of Bakelite and the radium radioactivity of the luminous numbering meant many were replaced during their lifetime leaving those in original condition very rare. This rarity is further defined by the short production period of the reference as a whole.
Rolex Oyster Monoblocco
Ref: 4500, Circa 1946
Estimate £15,000 – 20,000
Rolex produced only a limited handful of Oyster chronographs featuring just a 30-minute register as opposed to including a 12 hour register as well. First introduced in the 1940s, reference 4500 is one of these rare chronographs and was available to purchase in 4 materials – yellow gold, rose gold, steel and steel and gold.
Rolex Explorer II
Ref: 1655, Circa 1970
Etimate £15,000 – 20,000
The Rolex Explorer II 1655 first appeared on the market in 1971 and continued the tradition of the earlier Explorer models which were first introduced in 1953. The watch was originally developed to accompany speleologists on their cave exploration expeditions and as such was designed with extreme durability in mind. Due to its limited commercial success and short production period, the reference 1655 is today one of the more sought after Vintage Rolex models.
The model features a fixed bezel with 24 hour display and a special 24 hour hand that can be set to distinguish day from night hours. It is known as the “Freccione”, Italian for “big arrow”, amongst collectors.
Rolex Submariner
Ref: 5512, Circa 1962
Estimate £10,000 – 15,000
Rolex introduced to the market reference 5513 in 1962, and produced the reference until the mid-1980’s. The model is recognizable by its lack of date feature, allowing the dial to have a well-balanced design. Early examples featured a glossy black dial with gilt text.
The current lot is offered for sale by the family of the original owner who purchased the watch new in 1961/1962 when on active service in the Far East whilst serving with the Fleet Air Arm.
