Features


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Simple style but 1950s watches can be high tech

11 March 2024

Beneath the simple ‘1950s dress watch’ styling, the Jaeger LeCoultre Geophysic hides a lot of post-war tech.

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'Spaceview' was among the first commercially successful electronic watches

11 March 2024

Introduced in 1960, the Bulova Accutron 214 was one of the electronic trailblazers.

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Two lots both with one careful owner since new

11 March 2024

Watches with provenance will naturally command a premium.

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Name recognition builds brand awareness when it comes to watches

11 March 2024

Brand names are everything in watch collecting.

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Watches: How military precision massively influenced design

11 March 2024

The wristwatch, which began to replace the pocket watch in the First World War, really came into its own with the production of bespoke ‘tool’ watches for submariners and airmen later in the century

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Bangle by architect turned designer Zaha Hadid builds interest

04 March 2024

Among the most eagerly contested lots at a west London saleroom was a Georg Jensen silver bangle from the Lamellae collection designed by the architect-turned-designer Zaha Hadid.

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Omega watches by Andrew Grima are bang on time

04 March 2024

At the peak of his fame, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.

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Art Deco-era vanity cases highly sought by contemporary collectors

04 March 2024

Legend has it that Charles Arpels (of Van Cleef & Arpels fame) saw a lady friend stashing her lipstick and other cosmetics in an ordinary cigarette tin for a trip out on the town.

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Brooches concealing watches make striking auction prices

04 March 2024

Two fine Art Deco jewelled pendant brooches featuring miniature fob watches achieved strong results at Bonhams’ (28% buyer’s premium) London Jewels sale.

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Ring by Dubret influenced by Lalique but at a more affordable level

04 March 2024

Dawsons’ (25% buyer’s premium) Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver sale included this Art Nouveau gem-set foliage panel ring by Henri Dubret (1872-1947).

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Purple patch – Arts & Crafts collection of dealer duo comes to auction

04 March 2024

Collection of dealers who founded a shop and popular brand is up for sale next month in Sussex, offering more than 600 lots in a dedicated sale

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Maltese marvel – silver coffee pot stars as auction best seller

26 February 2024

Eighteenth century coffee pot made on the Mediterranean island stands out as best-seller in an extensive and varied auction array.

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Gallé’s special bowl could sell for a special price

26 February 2024

In 1903, only one year before his death, Emile Gallé was commissioned by the Belgian company Solvay et Cie with the creation of a bowl to mark the 30th anniversary of its factory in Dombasle.

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Stand-out silver to look out for in upcoming auctions

26 February 2024

A selection of previews from three British sales and another in Germany

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Three silver items to savour from Devon sale

26 February 2024

Pictured here are three highlight lots from recent sales held by Whittons (20% buyer’s premium) in Honiton, Devon.

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A tale of two cities: spotlight on Paris and London workshops

26 February 2024

A French three-colour gold snuff box was a highlight of the silver and vertu section of Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s recent winter sale.

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Beaker was made by the only female silversmith in Norwich

26 February 2024

Another auction where silver and objects of vertu were prominent was the fine art and antiques sale staged by Elstob (25% buyer’s premium).

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Monumental trophy races to £19,000

26 February 2024

Silverware was a major component of Bonhams’ (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium) Knightsbridge auction titled The Connoisseur’s Library on February 13-14.

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Broken die ensures token’s rarity

12 February 2024

Daniel Eccleston, a retired well-to-do West Indian and American merchant based in Queen Street, Lancaster, planned to issue this halfpenny token in 1794.

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Early Queen Anne before Acts of Union

12 February 2024

The 1705 silver crown is one of the key rarities in the Queen Anne (1702-14) series.

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