Our specialist Watch auction which took place in June 2022 saw impressive results led once more by Audemars Piguet. The brand that brought Lyon & Turnbull its top watch lot to date in March of this year provided lot 290A, a Royal Oak Offshore model that sold for £17,500*. Whereas many auctions over the last few years have seen Rolex feature heavily in the most successful lots, this auction saw brands including Hublot, Vacheron Constantin, Breguet, Zenith, Omega and IWC dominate.
Lot 306 was an unusual and rare to auction Vacheron Constantin watch, with a skeletonised dial and caseback revealing a heavily-decorated movement within. Known as the Patrimony Squelette, this model will have been a limited edition run, as most of these unusual watches are. It achieved £6,875* in our June sale. Despite the detailed nature of this model, the Patrimony was originally a line of very simple, classic dress watches released in the early 2000s. Like those that were dominant in the mid-20th century, these are slim-cased watches, with paired down dials. On leather straps, most are in gold or platinum. The Squelette is quite different therefore, focussing on detail and design, and being anything but simple. Although visually impressive, these watches are also technically superior. These functioning nature of these slim movements and individual components relies on precision of size and weight. Any engraving, of which there is much, will affect how they perform, and yet the watchmakers have produced these very accurate, and beautiful, movements.
The June sale also saw a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph achieve £16,250, while a diamond-set Hublot Big Bang sold for £8,125 and a Breguet Classique Moonphase bangle watch saw £4,500*.
The next watches auction is the Select Watches auction that will takes place in October 2022. Already consigned is a very rare F. P. Journe Chronometre Souverain wrist watch in platinum and a rose gold Rolex Day Date, a full set with its box, papers and guarantee card.
Consign to our October auction now ⇒
Lyon & Turnbull’s Watch Auctions department is a dynamic one with significant expertise, hosting diverse watch auctions across the U.K. featuring fine, rare, modern and vintage timepieces. Highlights from recent auctions include a rare Rolex Daytona 6263 that sold for £62,500 in October 2021 and an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak that achieved £106,250 (incl premium).
SARAH FERGUSSON | HEAD OF WATCHES
0141 333 1992
sarah.fergusson@lyonandturnbull.com