Thursday, December 3, 2009

Report : Bonhams Sale 16896 Fine Watches & Wristwatches


London, 2 Dec 2009



This was the first watch auction I attended this year! I think that's more to do with the economy, as usually I hear of two or three auctions.

In many ways this Bonhams auction was a 'special' event as the 'Porsche family' had donated a large quantity of the watches for charity (found at the midway part of the catalogue), with all proceeds in aid of cancer research. The rest of the catalogue consisted of private sale items, both vintage and modern.


People 'watching' is a great part of these auctions and it would seem that most of London's watch trade was in attendance, as were some well known Paneristi and other watch enthusiasts.


Prices realised for the items are available online here at Bonhams' site. The final sales of most if not all seemed under 'estimate' to me.

The handful of contemporary Panerai' went for very reasonable prices but but the winners once again had to be the Rolex Subs, fetching 'gasps' from the audience along with high figures.  The Omegas and Pateks also held their own along with many other well known brands, even Omega's original moon watch 'paperwork' fetched a four figure number!

The action packed 3-4 hours flew by, making a very enjoyable way to spend a cold and wet Wednesday afternoon. The Porsche family's donations raised £95'000 pounds for cancer research (information from the auctioneer), which was a great outcome.


Here are some of the results from the auction -

Lot No: 90 - A. Lange & Söhne. A very rare and large aviator's wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, hack feature and black dial. Signed A. Lange & Söhne, No.215652, circa 1940. Cal.48 three quarter plate gilt-finished lever movement, bimetallic compensation balance, micrometer regulator, the black dial marked W-SS with luminous Roman numerals, luminous hands, outer ring calibrated for 60 seconds, inner ring calibrated for mirrored seconds from 0 to 60, in large circular case with snap on back, case and movement signed and numbered. 65mm.

Sold for £26,400 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 93 - IWC. A stainless steel manual wind military wristwatch Mark X, 1940's. Jewelled Cal.83 movement, black dial with painted Arabic numerals and luminous dots, subsidiary seconds at 6, white printed IWC and broad arrow, stainless steel case with snap on back stamped with broad arrow and W.W.W M17950, together with original issue swing tag, case, dial and movement signed. 35mm.

Sold for £2,400 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 95 - Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic bracelet watch together with original punched Guarantee booklet, Certificate and Milgauss booklet. Milgauss Ref:1019.  Made in 1970, Sold 26th February 1973. 26-jewel Cal.1580 movement adjusted to 5 positions and temperature with brass inner protective movement cover, silvered dial with applied baton hour markers, sweep centre seconds with red triangular tip, polished case with chamfered bezel, screw down Oyster crown and screw back, fitted Oyster folding link bracelet with locking clasp, together with the original punched Guarantee booklet, punched certificate and Milgauss booklet, case, dial and movement signed. 39mm.

Sold for £14,400 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 96 - Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic centre seconds Royal Navy Military Issue wristwatch with double reference and W10 marked case back. Submariner Ref:5517/5513, Case No.3296937, Made in 1972, Issued in 1979. 26-jewel Cal:1520 movement, black dial with luminous dot and baton hour markers, signed 'Rolex Oyster Perpetual, 660ft=200m Submariner' and printed with a T within a circle, sweep centre seconds, original issued Sword Hands, polished case with calibrated revolving bezel, previously fixed bars (now made to push through), stamped 5517 still visible on the back of the lug, inside case back stamped 3296937, 5513, I.72, screw down Oyster crown and screw on back engraved with the M.O.D number W10/6645-99-9237697, 970/79, fitted fabric military style strap, case, dial and movement signed. 40mm.

Sold for £38,400 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 136 - Porsche Design. A fine and rare automatic prototype chronograph wristwatch with Certificate of Origin and Porsche design leather box. Dashboard PTC, Ref. 6612.41 Prototype, Case No 144.981, Made in 2005. 37-jewel ETA Calibre 2894-2 movement, self winding mechanical design with ball-bearing-mounted rotor, 42 hours power reserve, black/olive green dial with olive Arabic numerals, subsidiary dials for running seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, hands gold filled with white luminous material, large red second hand, black tachymeter tension ring with white printing (basis 1000), case and bezel are made of polished titanium, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, transparent sapphire glass back case, specially crafted Porsche Design rotor, titanium Porsche design buckle, fitted original Porsche Design leather strap, together with factory fitted box. 42mm.

Sold for £2,640 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 137 - Porsche Design. A fine and rare prototype automatic chronograph wristwatch with papers and black Porsche design leather box.  Dashboard PTR-Titan Rattrapante, Ref:6613.10, Prototype, Case No 141.112, Made in 2007. 25-jewel ETA Calibre 7750 AR2 movement, self winding mechanical design with ball-bearing-mounted rotor, specially crafted Porsche Design rotor, black dial with white Arabic numerals, subsidiary dials for running seconds 30 minute and 12 hour recording, hands filled with white luminous material, large red second hand, black tachymeter tension ring with white printing (basis 1000), matt titanium case, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, transparent sapphire glass back case, together with fitted factory box and papers, case, dial and movement signed. 42mm.

Sold for £4,800 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

 
Lot No: 187 - Omega. A rare stainless steel automatic centre seconds calendar divers watch. PlopProf, Professional Seamaster 600, No.31252340, Circa 1970. 20-jewel Cal.1002 nickel lever movement, blue dial, luminescent baton indexes, large orange minute hand, sweep centre seconds, aperture for date at 3 o'clock, oversized asymmetric right-handed case with raised resin bezel calibrated for five minute divisions, screw down and locking crown, large red button for releasing bezel, with a stainless steel Omega buckle, case, dial and movement signed. 55mm.

Sold for £4,560 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

 
Lot No: 191 - IWC. A fine and rare 18ct rose gold limited edition wristwatch with seven day power reserve and Tourbillon.  Portugese Tourbillon Mystere, No.115/250, Made in 2005. 44-jewel Cal.50900 movement, monometallic screw balance, visible tourbillon regulator, central rotor with 18ct gold medallion, automatic Pellaton winding system, the silvered dial with pink gold applied Arabic numerals, engine-turned subdial for small seconds, sector for the 7-day power-reserve indication, in three-part case, brushed and polished, transparent back fastened by six screws, 18ct gold IWC deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed. 44mm.

Sold for £20,400 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 228 - Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic centre seconds divers watch made for Comex together with Rolex papers and other related material. Submariner 'Comex 6136' Ref:16800, Serial No.8274654, 1985. 27-jewel Cal.3035 movement with hack seconds, gloss black dial with luminous dot and baton hour markers, the dial printed Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Comex Submariner 1000ft=300m Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, date aperture, sweep centre seconds, polished case with calibrated revolving bezel, screw down Oyster crown and screw on back the inside stamped 8274654 and the outside stamped 'G.Colley 6136 30-3-84' fitted stainless steel Oyster bracelet with locking clasp, together with blank Rolex papers, anchor, swing tag, diving certificate, Comex pin badge and other related material, case, dial and movement signed. 40mm.

Sold for £30,000 inclusive of Buyer's Premium


Lot No: 232 - Rolex. A stainless steel wristwatch with rare Prisoner of War provenance including a letter signed from the Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. Case No.139041, circa 1943.  17-jewel manual wind movement with Patented Super Balance, silvered dial with black printed Arabic numerals, blued steel hand, red centre seconds, polished case with chamfered bezel, screw down Oyster crown and screw back numbered 139041, together with Rolex Headed letter dated 18th March 1943, Guarantee card, outer envelope all stamped in red with the Oflag VII B gepruft stamp. 30mm.

Sold for £4,200 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

 
 
Lot No: 280 - Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel centre seconds automatic wristwatch with original Rolex box, guarantee booklet and bill of sale. Explorer Ref: 1002, Made in February 1966, Sold 27th July 1966. 26-jewel Cal.1530 automatic movement, gloss black dial with Arabic 3,6,9, gilt text signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer, Super Precision, sweep centre seconds hand, polished case with chamfered bezel, screw down Oyster crown and screw back, fitted stainless steel sprung Oyster bracelet with locking clasp, date coded 1 65 (January 1965) together with green Rolex box with outer card case, Guarantee booklet showing retailer of Johnson & Clark (Staines) Ltd and original selling date of 27th July 1966, also the bill of sale showing the purchase price of £50.10 shillings, further highlighted with Rolex service papers and bill from 1974 where a service cost £17.58p, case dial and movement signed. 33mm.
 
Sold for £4,560 inclusive of Buyer's Premium



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