Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

This category ranges from historical clocks to contemporary jewellery. Dealers tend to specialise in one of these individual areas while many auctions feature separate sections for horology, watches and jewellery as part of their mixed sales.

However, dedicated sales, especially in the jewellery category, are now fairly commonly especially in London, Birmingham and other major centres.

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Relatively small size brings big benefit to longcase

09 June 2025

A diminutive Queen Anne walnut longcase signed by Christopher Gould (c.1655-1718) made $25,000 (£18,645) against a guide of $2000-3000 at Locati (25% buyer’s premium) in Pineville, Pennsylvania.

George III table clock

Rimbault clock bid to five times estimate at Dutch sale

02 June 2025

A fine English table clock by Huguenot maker Stephen Rimbault (1711-86) generated plenty of competition at auction in the Netherlands.

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Jewellery: The Jean-Pierre Cornille collection of Christian Dior creates a costume drama

02 June 2025

This impressive array of costume jewellery sold in Paris showcased the work of half a century and seven creative directors of the Dior brand.

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Feel blue but buoyant thanks to Cartier design

02 June 2025

Cartier’s aquamarine jewellery appears to have been predominantly produced from the London workshop starting in 1932.

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Rings that come with emotional messages

02 June 2025

While Whitby jet was particularly fashionable during the reign of Victoria, it had been a popular material for jewellery from the Romano British period onwards.

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Sapphire ring soars to Irish highest price for jewellery at auction

02 June 2025

The sale of Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on May 13 included an impressive retro sapphire and diamond ‘tank’ ring, c.1940, that came for sale from the ‘private collection of a Continental lady’.

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Story of the formidable goldsmith Sybil Dunlop

02 June 2025

In the 1920s-30s, the Scottish-born goldsmith Sybil Dunlop (1889- 1968) presided over a workshop in London’s Kensington Church Street dressed in a kaftan and Russian fur boots.

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Spectacular Cartier on offer includes tiara with Astor provenance

02 June 2025

Bonhams’ London Jewels sale on June 5 features a spectacular Cartier turquoise and diamond tiara that comes by descent from Nancy, Viscountess Astor (1879-1964).

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Feather brooch finds new owner after five-minute bidding battle

02 June 2025

This large diamond, sapphire and emerald peacock feather brooch was the highlight of a recent Fine Jewellery sale held at Fellows (25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.

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Parure produced in Princes Street Edinburgh sells well south of the border

02 June 2025

Among the highlights of a recent jewellery sale held by Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford was this mid-to late-19th century amethyst parure.

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Grasshopper ring bound to attract attention as a Tudor gift

02 June 2025

A previously unrecorded Elizabethan gold signet ring, a gift from the influential Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79), comes for sale at Noonans on June 17.

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Necklace boosted by a fascinating backstory

02 June 2025

This Victorian acrostic gold, hardstone and paste necklace, probably made in Rome c.1890, sold for £3800 (estimate £2000-3000) at Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) Jewellery & Watches sale on May 22.

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Bone models story fleshed out: by prisoners of war or craftsmen?

26 May 2025

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

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ATG letter: Further thoughts on Woodwiss

26 May 2025

I may be able to add a little to the article about the only known Woodwiss clock (International section, ATG No 2690).

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Pick of the Week: Vulliamy’s public clocks

19 May 2025

Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) was clockmaker to George III and also to The Prince Regent, later George IV.

Piprahwa Gems

Sotheby’s halts sale of Piprahwa Gems after protest from Indian government

07 May 2025

Following opposition from the Indian state, Sotheby's took the 11th hour decision to cancel a Hong Kong auction of a collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha.

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James Gandy’s masterpiece sells in Cumbria auction

05 May 2025

A well-documented George II astronomical walnut longcase made by James Gandy of Cockermouth was the highlight of a recent sale at Mitchells’ (22% buyer’s premium) in Cumbria.

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Education, education, education at Fellows

05 May 2025

The Jewellery department at Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham is celebrating three new qualifications for its team.

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Reform Club acquires William IV clock that appeared at Cirencester auction

28 April 2025

A new addition to the permanent collection of the Reform Club on Pall Mall is a William IV Scottish eight-day painted dial longcase.

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Watches marked a time of aviation achievement

28 April 2025

Collection included timepieces presented to intrepid French pilots

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