Bonhams Watches’ first sale of the year takes place tomorrow, February 18, with 240 lots spanning much of the history of timekeepers, starting with a circa 1900 pocket watch made by Baume & Co and ending with a 2018 Bremont GMT (pictured above).
Today’s most prestigious watchmakers might affix a six figure price tag to a gold watch with a perpetual calendar chronograph with minute repeating grande sonnerie and moonphase.
Remarkably, the Baume & Co piece from 120 years ago has all these complications in a pocket watch that has a pre-sale estimate of just $20-25,000.
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Other key lots, with estimates and descriptions from Bonhams, include:
Bremont 1918 GMT limited edition no. 106/275. Estimate £2,000 – 3,000. This stainless-steel automatic calendar chronograph wristwatch was released in 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the Royal Air Force. As well as a moon phase and dual time indication, the timepiece features an extraordinary rotor comprised of elements from three Battle of Britain aircrafts – the Bristol Blenheim, Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane – in the formation of propeller blades n the oscillating weight. At the centre of the rotor there is a veneer of original wood from the Shuttleworth Collection’s 1917 SE5a as propeller blades.2018 Moritz Grosmann Atum Pure, Reference MG-002064, representing a ‘new generation of timepieces created by contemporary brands and produced by one of the emerging ‘powerhouses’ of German watchmaking, known for their simplistic, clean designs. Introduced in 2013, the Atum is part of the ‘Pure’ range which embodies these qualities. The stainless-steel manual wind wristwatch features a unique hand engraved balance clock, white lacquer dial and dark grey Moritz Grossmann alligator leather strap.1990 Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Reference 43031. Estimate £4,000 – 6,000 (lot 237). An 18K gold automatic perpetual calendar bracelet watch with moon phase – an elegant yet complicated timepiece.2005 Rolex Submariner, Reference 16618T, estimate £8,000 – 12,000. An 18K gold automatic calendar bracelet watch with sunburst blue dial and gilt ‘Mercedes’ hands with luminous inserts.2008 Omega Seamaster Beijing Olympics, estimate £800 – 1,200. This limited-edition timepiece, (Reference: 178.1112) number of 724 of 2008, is identified by its centre chronograph hand featuring the Olympic rings to its base.1970 International Watch Company ‘Ingenieur’, Reference 866A, estimate £1,800 – 2,000. This ‘magnetic’ watch was created by the designer of the renowned Nautilus, and was first introduced by IWC as its first automatic, antimagnetic watch.
