LONDON.- The Specialist Watches sale at
Chiswick Auctions on March 22 included a number of very special modern issues – including a diver’s watch made for MI5 employees.
Direct from family member who worked with the Security Service was an extremely rare Breitling stainless steel automatic Superocean Steelfish. It has the MI5 Security Service crest to the dial at the nine o’clock position and appropriate engraving to the case back. These were made in 2009 e in a limited edition of just 900 pieces to mark 100 years since the creation of the Secret Service in 1909. It came for sale with box, papers, extra bracelet links and tags and sold at £4,750.
One fortunate collector bid £13,750 for a limited edition Chopard LUC tourbillion with a 60 hour power reserve. This was number 64 of only 150 made in 2011 with a titanium case and bezel. The openwork window displays the tourbillon, a complication in which the escapement and balance wheel are mounted in a rotating cage to eliminate errors of poise and increase accuracy.
An 18 carat gold watch by Breguet, thought to be a unique piece made by the top-drawer Swiss brand 50 years ago, sold for £16,875. This manual watch with skeleton champagne hour ring and black numerals and hands was sent to Breguet to confirm its authenticity, the firm said the watch had been sold on November 29, 1972 in London for the price equivalent of 3,850 French francs. It was sold complete with its original strap with a gold Breguet buckle.
Watches and jewellery with retro styling from the Sixties and Seventies continue to roar back into fashion. Also in demand here was a lady’s Piaget watch with a malachite dial and yellow gold sautoir. Made c.1975, it sold in its original box for £16,875.
Auctions such as this always offer the chance to pick up a nearly new branded watch at a price way below retail. Here a Cartier lady’s Panthere bracelet watch in 18 carat yellow gold with a with a factory diamond-set case and bezel sold for £8,750 while a men’s Rolex Day Date and bracelet in 18ct white gold sold for £16,250.
