Last week's sale of 164 collectible watches at Sotheby's featured a wide array of wristwatches from some of the most prominent manufacturers in the industry. However, the results threw up a few surprises for collectors and investors alike.
Taking place in London on July 16th, highlights included an 18 carat white gold hinged wristwatch manufactured by Patek Philippe. Measuring 35mm in diameter, the watch doubled its £7,000 ($10,500) auction estimate, selling for £14,375 ($21,800).
The biggest leap from auction estimate, was reserved for a beautifully designed gold and enamel case Charleson watch. The watch dated back to the year 1700, and featured a unique painted design.
 The Charleson pocket watch(circa 1700) |
The watch had an auction estimate of £2,000 but a bidding war ensued, with the lucky winner taking home the historic piece for £18,750 ($28,600).
Elsewhere, a unique rectangular tourbillion wristwatch from established makers Piaget sold for £32,450 ($49,500).
The five year old featured a beautifully flared 18 carat white gold design alongside a technologically advanced power reserve system.
Elsewhere, one of the stand out lots of the auction came from high end Swiss manufacturer Girard-Perregaux.
The time piece was a semi skeletonised triple bridge tourbillion wristwatch made from fine platinum and dating back to the year 2000.
The watch sold for an impressive £43,250 ($66,100).
Ultimately though, all of the talk and much of the bidding focused on a very special timepiece.
This was the rare 18 carat yellow gold automatic George Daniels wristwatch which featured the date alongside Daniels trademark slim co-axial escapement, a feature described as "radical and revolutionary" by Omega.
The wristwatch had been made by Daniels back in 1999 as part of a limited series to mark the start of the new millennium.
 George Daniel's Millenium watch |
Recognised as one of the greatest watchmakers of the 20th century Dr. George Daniels has received both an MBE for his services to horology, and more recently a CBE.
Today, his watches remain some of the rarest and most unique on the market. It was therefore of little surprise when the 37mm diameter watch sold for £61,250 ($93,750).
In total, the auction grossed a £981,700 ($1,490,000), making the average sale price of each watch, around £7,300 ($11,100).
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