Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

This late Victorian diamond tiara set with old mine, old European and old cut diamonds comes for sale at Adam’s in Dublin on December 2 by descent from Dermot Chichester, 7th Marquess of Donegall (1916-2007).

The unexpected highpoint of the sale at Potteries Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Staffordshire on November 7 – a sale otherwise dominated by 20th century collectable ceramics – was this high-carat gold signet or seal ring.

Serendipity had it that three jewels by the Guild and School of Handicraft emerged for sale across three UK salerooms on November 5-6.

Phillips set a new auction record for Adolf Loos (1870-1933) when a dwarf longcase clock, a prime example of his work, drew strong competition on November 4.

Chiswick Auctions set what is thought to be a record for a Dunhill lighter when a silver and enamel ‘fancy shape’ pocket lighter and watch hammered at £19,000.

Engraving indicates timepiece had been taken during the 1815 battle and presented to a lieutenant

From the mid-18th century onwards, members of the Courvoisier family belonged to the most important and innovative watchmakers in Switzerland.

Arts & Crafts design for Liberty is highly prized at German auction

By the 15th century the mechanical clock age had dawned but time had not entirely been called yet on the sundial.

The opportunity to obtain a ‘Kew A Certificate’ did not just attract local British makers but drew in Rolex as well.

Falling-ball or falling-globe clocks are great horological rarities; only about 30 examples are thought to have survived since their construction in the second half of the 17th century.

There was some good old fashioned auction drama in Ruislip on October 7 when a loose sapphire hammered for £332,000, a house record for any of the Adam Partridge salerooms.

The 300th anniversary of the birth of the English radical journalist and politician John Wilkes (1725-97) on October 17 is being marked by a small exhibition featuring items from the personal collection and stock of dealer Timothy Millett.

London jeweller Wartski has the perfect gift for Halloween: a late 17th century pendant fashioned from a lizard’s leg.

Auction house Fellows has a new owner, with 100% of the business - previously owned by the Whittaker family - having been sold to a private investor.