Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-71) began to develop the very first mystery clocks in c.1830.

Chanel No 5 was perfected in the late summer and autumn of 1920 by the French-Russian chemist and perfumer Ernest Beaux.

In last week’s news story about auction house overall sales totals for 2024 (ATG No 2679) we said that the highest-value objects sold in the UK by any regional auction house last year were two Antonine over-lifesize busts of empresses which hammered at £600,000 each at Lyon & Turnbull.

An inheritance influenced Boston dealer duo to turn their collecting interest to a different market

Our selection of lots from 12 upcoming sales

A textbook example of British Arts & Crafts jewellery – a Guild of Handicraft peacock pendant necklace designed by Charles Robert Ashbee – sold for $35,000 (£28,100) in the US at the end of 2024.

A gold-mounted garnet intaglio ring depicting the handsome Greek youth Antinous was taken to a multi-estimate £24,000 at Busby’s (25/10% buyer’s premium), triggering speculation it might be one of the lost ancient Marlborough gems.

An unusual, slightly risky, but highly effective late 17th century alarm clock found a new owner at Dr Crott (25% buyer’s premium) in Mannheim.

A stand-out lot of Bellmans’ (25% buyer’s premium) biannual Fine Clocks auction on December 5 was a chronometer made for the 1874 British expedition to observe the transit of Venus.

Jewellery dating to c.1960 was once owned by well-known women in New York and Palm Beach

Nosheen Brohi runs jewellery dealership Fable & Windsor at Grays Antique Market in Davies Street, Mayfair

The 200th auction at specialist clock and watch saleroom Klöter’s (23% buyer’s premium) in Grafenau contained almost 950 timekeepers from all eras.

Turkish dealer Efe Gurger has a retail outlet at Grays Antique Market, Mayfair, which he has been managing since April. The 25-year old has become popular for his rare vintage watch timepieces and jewels.

This late 19th century silver mounted ceramic dish or coupe came up at the Belgian firm CR-Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) when it was bid to €7000 (£5835) against a guide of €2000-3000.

The influential 20th century jewellery designer Suzanne Belperron (1900-83) had a wide-ranging clientele during her lifetime spanning royalty, artists and people from the worlds of fashion and entertainment.

Pictured here are two very different timekeepers from sales held in Paris by Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

As the gift-giving season arrives, jewellery seldom disappoints. Pictured here are a range of antique and vintage jewels coming up for sale in the next couple of weeks, all with estimates under £1500.

While the buying audience still loves its brand names and big stones, jewellery with a narrative is a strength of the market