A Very Rare Stainless Steel Automatic ‘Calatrava’ Wristwatch by Patek Philippe sold for £105,000 in Tennants Auctioneers’ Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale on 13th July (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). Made circa 1956, the Patek Philippe Calatrava was consigned at a Clocks and Watches Valuation Day in Tennants’ Harrogate Office. It had belonged to the vendor's late husband for many years. Particularly notable is the nice even light brown patina to the dial. The watch, which attracted bidders from across the world, is an example of the rare reference 2585, powered by the high-quality calibre 12-600 and housed in a stainless-steel case. Only a few examples of this reference 2585 and movement calibre in a stainless-steel case are known to have been sold at auction.
Patek Philippe continues to be a much-coveted make amongst collectors, and a modern Fine 18 Carat Rose Gold Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Wristwatch (reference 5146R-001), sold for £30,000, double the top estimate. Further good results were achieved for a 2006 Jaeger Le Coultre 18 Carat Rose Gold Reverso Grande GMT (reference 240.2.18) (sold for £7,500), a Piaget Lady’s 18 Carat White Gold Diamond Set Wristwatch (reference 9190 A6) (sold for £3,800), and a rare Cartier Art Deco Ultra Slip 18 Carat Gold Open Faced Pocket Watch (sold for £4,500). The pocket watch, which was made in 1935, was once owned by Sir Henry Sessions Souttar, a surgeon, mathematician and engineer known for his pioneering designs for surgical instruments.
Leading the Jewellery section of the sale was a fine Sapphire and Diamond Ring, which sold for £16,500 and featured an old pear cut sapphire, surrounded by old cut diamonds. A Diamond Two Stone Twist Ring sold for £12,000, and the enthusiasm for buyers for quality emeralds continued with an Art Deco Emerald and Diamond Ring selling for £11,000, and an Emerald and Diamond Five Stone Ring selling for £3,000. Overall, good quality 19th century to mid-20th century jewellery continues to perform well.
Selling above estimate, too, were a Pair of Cultured South Sea Pearl and Diamond Earrings (sold for £5,900), a Platinum Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring by Hirsh London (sold for£4,600), a Pearl Brooch realistically modelled as a cherub and bird (sold for £4,800), and a Pair of Art Deco Diamond Spray Earrings (sold for £3,200). Finally, an Early 20th Century Diamond Brooch in the form of a spider’s web sold for £1,800, and an 18 Carat Gold Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond Novelty Brooch modelled as a stylised Scottish Terrier sold for £1,700.
One of the top lots of the Silver Section was a Pair of Victorian Silver Ceremonial Trumpets, by Henry Potter, London, 1885. Although of the typical military form down to the chased garland of military trophies, this pair of natural trumpets was originally presented as a birthday gift to Henry Pearson Banks (1844-1891) by his brother Edwin Hodge Banks (1847-1917), commemorating the elder brother’s year as High Sheriff of Cumberland. Further good results for the section included a Victorian Silver Tea Tray, by Stephen Smith and William Nicholson, London, 1853 (sold for £4,200), a Five-Piece Chinese Export Silver Tea and Coffee Service, retailed by Nanking Store, Shanghai in the first quarter of the 20th century, each piece chased with dragons and with handles cast in the shape of bamboo (sold for £4,200), and a Pair of William III Silver Tazze by Joseph Sheene, London, 1698 (sold for £1,700).
The sale achieved a total hammer price of £636,280 with an 88% sold rate for 307 lots.
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