Category Archives: News

Fellows and the School of Jewellery

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Fellows
Fellows Auctioneers has been proud to have forged a meaningful partnership with Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery over recent years. We offer work experience and job opportunities to students pursuing degrees in jewellery and horology. Through our partnership with the School of Jewellery, we have opened our doors to aspiring talents in the jewellery industry. We provide hands-on training, mentorship, and exposure to the intricate world of auctions and the jewellery industry. During their studies, students can benefit from paid work experience at Fellows. As well as gaining a firsthand understanding of an auction house’s operations through the course of their time working with us, they also make professional connections which will be beneficial to their future careers. This immersive approach enhances their academic learning and also fosters crucial industry connections and professional growth. Post-graduation, we extend employment opportunities to those students and their peers at BCU. We recognise the potential and dedication of Birmingham City University’s graduates and actively create opportunities for them within our company. Many BCU alumni find themselves seamlessly transitioning from students to full-time members of the Fellows team. As a family business, we understand the importance of training and paving the way for the next generation in our industry. We have been committed to this collaborative endeavour between academia and industry for many years. We find that it not only enriches the students’ educational experiences but also teaches them about the world of work post-university. Their commitment to their studies and work demonstrates a bright future for aspiring jewellery professionals. Look at the feedback from some of those involved in the partnership between Fellows and the School of Jewellery: Hira Eden Ilyas – HR Manager, Fellows Auctioneers “I have met the nicest people from networking and finding recruits from BCU’s School of Jewellery. It’s been a nice experience allowing those with the relevant educational background to come and apply their learnings. It is great to work in collaboration with a university that cares about life after university too!” Michelle McCormick – Lecturer and Schools Outreach Coordinator, Birmingham City University “For numerous years we have had a fantastic partnership with Fellows Auctioneers. Every year our students have the opportunity to test and examine their jewellery. This provides our students with meaningful industry experience. Working with Hira in my Industry Studies module is a recent addition to our collaboration with Fellows. Hira had one-to-one interviews with the whole class and provided them with valuable feedback. Furthermore, five of the students secured part-time work there.” Dante – School of Jewellery Student “The opportunity to have a representative from Fellows help us prepare and practice for our industry studies module was valuable. The interview opportunity with Hira and the work experience at Fellows was highly appreciated. Seeing and working in that setting is something that I believe will benefit me in my future career.” Adam – School of Jewellery Student “The opportunity presented to me by Michelle offered me the opportunity to interview an industry professional. It allowed me to speak to someone with experience in a field I intend to work in after my degree. I would like to thank Michelle and Hira for the opportunity they have given me. Furthermore, the opportunity to work at Fellows Auctioneers has provided me valuable insight into how the auctioneering world operates on a day-to-day basis and has allowed me to appreciate the career that I am aiming for.“ The Fellows Awards at the School of Jewellery As well as the job opportunities and work experience, we are also proud to sponsor two awards at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery each year. The awards reflect two main areas of the school and our business, Jewellery and Horology. The Fellows Award 2022: Horology & Jewellery The Fellows Award: Horology & Jewellery If you, or someone you know, want to gain experience as a student or are looking for a full-time role, take a look at our careers page. We offer paid internships and part-time employment to the students during their studies. Many recent graduates go on to work with us in our Jewellery and Watch teams. We also accept speculative enquiries from anyone exploring their career options. To apply, please email a cover letter and your CV to our HR Manager, Hira Eden Ilyas at hira@fellows.co.uk.
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Bernard John Warren | Caterpillar Club Pin

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Fellows
A Caterpillar Club pin is a tiny but significant pin awarded to members of an exclusive group. The Irvin parachute company awards them to those people whose lives have been saved by one of their parachutes. Members receive a membership card and a distinctive pin. The gold caterpillar brooch has red (sometimes garnet, other times enamel) eyes. Raised gold stripes are lined along the body of the pin just like on the body of a caterpillar. Engraved with the owner’s name and rank, these pins (or brooches) serve as tangible symbols of the thrilling tales behind their acquisition. Sgt Bernard John Warren When a little gold caterpillar arrived at Fellows Auctioneers HQ in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, our specialists knew straight away what it was. It has been an honour to offer for sale 6 of these little gold pieces of aviation history since 2017. Our previous encounters with these pieces mean that when we see a new one coming into our auctions, we know exactly what to do to start uncovering the stories that these small tokens symbolise. Our jumping-off point is always the inscription on the pack of the brooch. In this case, it read Sgt. B J Warren. After much searching through military records and censuses, we found him. This particular pin belonged to one Bernard John Warren. Once we put a name to the pin, we were able to uncover how he came by this little caterpillar, a story taking us back to the 1940s. Warren started his military service 3 years into the Second World War. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in late 1942. He went on to join the 103 Squadron at Elsham Wolds on February 24, 1944. 103 Squadron was a Royal Air Force bomber squadron during World War I, World War II, the Cold War and beyond. During the Second World War, the Squadron reformed in August 1936. From October 1942 to November 1945 the squadron flew Avro Lancaster bombers Mks.I & III. The crew to which Warren belonged flew successful missions aboard their Lancaster MK III bomber. In April 1944, Warren served as a rear gunner onboard the Lancaster ME741 alongside his colleagues:
  • Flt Sgt Walter MEADOWS
  • Flt Sgt Douglas Theodore MITCHELL
  • Sgt Bernard John WARREN
  • Sgt Thomas William WETTON
  • Fg Off James William BIRCHALL
  • Sgt David John HILL
  • Sgt James HILL
Earning a Caterpillar Club pin An incident worthy of a pin On April 23rd, 1944, tragedy struck and the Caterpillar Club gained a new member. The eighth and final operation for Lancaster ME741 almost didn’t happen. Take-off was delayed for the bomber crews of the 103 squadron at first when a plane from another squadron caught fire. The 103 crews had to use a different runway. Due to these changes, only 13 or the intended 15 planes took off. Once in the air, they made their way across Mainland Europe towards Dusseldorf. As Warren’s crew flew over the burning German city, they were hit by a flak and lost control. Warren recalled the incident: “My intercom went dead, the hydraulics ceased to function and my guns were U/S. I rotated the turret by manual control but, from then on, I was a sitting duck. More flak followed and with the aircraft now on fire, I decided to leave the turret. On entering the fuselage I came face to face with our wireless operator who had been sent back to see if I was still alive. He indicated that we were to bale out and I put on my parachute and followed him out of the rear door.” Our thanks go to David Fell for his research on this incident and the 103 Squadron. Prisoner of war Warren was one of the lucky ones, although stranded behind enemy lines, he was unhurt. He was captured by German soldiers and became a prisoner of war. He was first imprisoned in Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug, then Stalag 357 ‘Kopernikus’, at Thorn (now known as Toruń) in Poland. Conditions at the camps were miserable. He and the other prisoners endured harsh conditions until April 1945 when they were released due to the advance of Allied forces. The story does not end there, however. Upon their release, the POWs were mistaken for Germans by the Allies, and they suffered an attack by British Typhoon fighter-bombers. At least sixty prisoners of war were killed and many more were wounded. Bernard Warren’s wartime experience is peppered with instances of survival against the odds. We are privileged to be given the chance to discover these stories and share them as part of our auction process. We would never have known about his time in the RAF and subsequent internment as a POW if not for this piece of gold measuring less than 2cm in length. As we have seen with the other Caterpillar Club pins we have sold at auction, his story is not uncommon. However, that does not make it any less remarkable. Sgt. B J Warren’s Caterpillar Club pin at auction Lot 194 Caterpillar club pin awarded to Sgt. B. J. Warren. Price Realised: £1,170.00 Our Antiques specialist, Alison Snowdon said: “To be offering a second Caterpillar Club pin this year truly is an absolute honour. It is a privilege to share the stories of bravery and heroism wrapped up in these little pins. Their potential for research and intrigue really is second to none. The potential to uncover the stories of why and how they were awarded never ceases to amaze me”. Monies, Medals & Militaria Thursday 25th April 2024 – Ends from 12:00 pm Viewing Times: London Thursday 18th April 11:00-17:00 Birmingham Wednesday 24th April 10:00-16:00 Virtual viewings are available by request. Virtual viewings are the ultimate personal shopping experience. Using Zoom, you can ask us whatever you need to know to buy with confidence. Find out more here. Please contact coins@fellows.co.uk to book a virtual viewing Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Alexandra Whittaker BA (Hons) | Head of Partnerships and Events
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Fellows 2023 Round-Up!

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Fellows
2023 has been a very busy year for Fellows. We have held over 130 auctions across 8 specialisms with notable one-off auctions such as the Peter Hayman Collection. We have offered nearly 55,000 lots for sale in our specialist auctions. There are almost too many to pick from. But, we have narrowed it down and included some of our top hammer highlights below. Continuing with our commitment to offering free shipping for the majority of lots we offer for sale, has meant that we have sent out over 10,000 parcels this year. We are delighted that this service is so frequently mentioned by our clients in the reviews they leave online. If you would like to leave a review of your experience with Fellows please visit our TrustPilot page. Having nearly 3,000 honest reviews from our customers encourages new customers to buy or sell with confidence so our thanks goes to all of you who have taken the time to leave a review this year. In 2023 we have expanded our specialist teams within the handbag, jewellery, and coin departments allowing us to offer more auctions in 2024 for these areas. There are notable auctions already planned in 2024 for you to look out for including; the first of the revamped standalone Monies, Medals & Militaria auction and a Country House auction. Both of these will be held in February. We’re now accepting consignments for 2024 across all specialist departments. While our front-of-house teams in both Birmingham and London would be delighted to welcome you to the offices to get your items valued in person, we still offer a free virtual valuation service. More information can be found here. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, from all at Fellows. Fellows 2023 Lot Highlights Jewellery One of the standout lots sold in our jewellery auctions this year was a mesmerizing garnet intaglio ring, possibly depicting Augustus, which fetched a staggering hammer price of £90,000 in April. This exquisite piece is a true representation of craftsmanship and artistry, showcasing the beauty and allure of a highly prized gemstone. One of our senior specialists, Ben Randall, commented: “This was an amazing result. A highlight of one of many undeniably stunning intaglios from 2023“. Lot 700 A 19th century Revivalist 18ct gold garnet intaglio ring, possibly depicting Augustus. Estimate: £150 – £200 Price Realised: £117,000.00 Another noteworthy piece was a diamond brooch featuring a charming squirrel holding a nut, created by the renowned jeweller René Boivin. Hammering for £8,800 back in February, this playful yet elegant brooch captured the hearts of bidders with its whimsical design and sparkling diamonds. Lot 24 A mid 20th century 18ct gold old-cut diamond squirrel brooch, holding a rose-cut diamond nut, by René Boivin. Estimate: £1,800 – £2,600 Price Realised: £11,440.00 Lastly, a Georgian acrostic locket inscribed with the word ‘Regard’ caught the attention of collectors, hammering for £1,600 in November. This sentimental piece with its hidden message demonstrated the romanticism and sentimental value often associated with antique jewellery.  Lot 650 Georgian gold gem ‘Regard’ acrostic heart locket Estimate: £200 – £300 Price Realised: £1,600 From historic intaglio rings to whimsical animal-inspired brooches and meaningful love lockets, our jewellery auctions have truly offered a diverse array of remarkable pieces that capture the essence of beauty, art, and sentimentality. Watches In our watch auctions this year, several standout lots garnered significant attention and achieved impressive prices. One such highlight was the Nautilus watch, crafted by renowned Swiss luxury watchmaker Patek Philippe, which hammered for an astounding £32,000 in May. This exemplar of elegance and precision captivated collectors with its exquisite design and impeccable craftsmanship.  Lot 87 Patek Philippe – a stainless steel Nautilus bracelet watch, 35mm x 38mm. Estimate: £25,000 – £35,000 Price Realised: £41,600.00 Additionally, the Jacob & Co. Quenttin Tourbillon watch, was another remarkable lot that commanded a hammer price of £29,000 in November. With its intricately designed tourbillon mechanism, this timepiece showcased the brand’s commitment to innovation and technical expertise. Our Head of Watches, Kain Holroyd, gave the statement: “It’s great to see the more obscure and unusual watches not only create a large amount of interest from bidders but also hammer for almost double its estimate, this lot in particular the Jacob & Co Tourbillon performed extraordinarily well in our last live Luxury Watch Sale of 2023“. Lot 73 Jacob & Co – a Quenttin Tourbillon wrist watch, 44x52mm. Estimate: £14,000 – £20,000 Price Realised: £37,700.00 Lastly, the Breitling SuperOcean watch, achieved an impressive hammer price of £17,000 in November. As a diver’s watch, it exuded durability and functionality while maintaining a stylish aesthetic that appealed to discerning enthusiasts. Lot 21 Breitling – a SuperOcean bracelet watch, 38.5mm. Estimate: £7,000 – £9,000 Price Realised: £22,100.00 These remarkable timepieces exemplify the high calibre and desirability of watches that were featured in our auctions this year. Antiques, Silver & Coins One of the standout lots sold this year was an Italian 19th-century micromosaic table. This exquisite piece fetched an impressive hammer price of £47,500 in March’s Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables auction. The craftsmanship and intricate design of this table captivated bidders, resulting in an exciting bidding war. From our Antiques, Silver & Coins team: “It was an utter privilege to be able to work with, and catalogue, such an impressive example of micromosaic workmanship. This table was undoubtedly one of the most fantastic lots that we saw this year“. Lot 465 A 19th century Italian micromosaic table. Estimate: £25,000 – £35,000 Price Realised: £61,750.00 Another highlight was an Edwardian copy of The Warwick Vase, which achieved a remarkable hammer price of £8,650 in May’s Silver & Plated Ware | Monies, Medals & Memorabilia auction. The exquisite detailing of this piece resonated with collectors, leading to a fantastic outcome for the seller. Lot 86 An Edwardian silver copy of The Warwick Vase. Estimate: £1,500 – £2,500 Price Realised: £11,245 Additionally, an Indian gold coin of Queen Victoria turned heads and reached a hammer price of £6,450 in November’s Silver & Plated Ware | Monies, Medals & Memorabilia auction. This rare and sought-after coin further demonstrated the enduring appeal of numismatic treasures, attracting enthusiastic bidders who recognised its historical worth. Lot 401 India, British Empire. Victoria AV Mohur. Estimate: £2,500 – £3,500 Price Realised: £8,385.00 These highlight lots showcase the diverse range of items that have passed through our auctions, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts from various niches. Designer Handbags & Accessories Recently renamed, this auction has become increasingly popular due to the variety of designer handbags, jewellery and accessories. One of the standout lots sold in our designer handbags and accessories auction was the Kelly II 32 Retourne by Hermès, which fetched a remarkable hammer price of £7,800 in October. This iconic handbag is renowned for its timeless design and exceptional craftsmanship, making it a highly sought-after item. Lot 241 Hermès – Taurillon Clemence Kelly II Retourne 32 Rouge Casaque. Estimate: £6,000 – £8,000 Price Realised: £10,140.00 In February, another highlight lot was the Chanel Jumbo Classic double flap bag, which hammered for a price of £4,400. This popular and iconic handbag combines elegance and functionality, making it a covetable piece for any fashion lover. Lot 58 Chanel – a black Caviar leather Jumbo Classic double flap handbag. Estimate: £3,000 – £4,400 Price Realised: £5,720 One of the most surprising moments in our auction came in October when a pair of Chanel Clip-on earrings went under the hammer. Despite having an estimate of £30 – £50, the bidding soared to a staggering hammer price of £800. This unexpected turn of events highlighted the allure of Chanel jewellery. Lot 535 Chanel – clip on earrings. Estimate: £30 – £50 Price Realised: £1,040.00 Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Luke Poole | Marketing Manager Nicola Whittaker | Head of Handbags
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Festive Period

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Fellows
Fellows Auctioneers will be closing over the festive period. Our schedule can be seen below: ClosedSaturday 23rd December 2023 to Monday 1st January 2024 OpenTuesday 2nd January 2024 If you have any queries, please email info@fellows.co.uk and we will respond upon our return. With the festive period ahead of us, it is important to make everyone aware of the final posting dates before Christmas. The dates can be seen below, please get in touch if you have any questions. Royal Mail UK Monday 18 December 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For, Royal Mail Tracked 48®**Wednesday 20 December 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail Tracked 24®**Thursday 21 December Special Delivery Guaranteed®Friday 22 December Special Delivery Guaranteed®(Guaranteed Saturday delivery for an extra fee) International Monday 11 December Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Bulgaria, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, SpainTuesday 12 December Cyprus and MaltaWednesday 13 December Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA Parcelforce UK Wednesday 20 December Two-day servicesThursday 21 December Next-day services International EuropriorityTuesday 12 December Europe (unless listed below)Tuesday 12 December Italy, Spain, PortugalWednesday 13 December FranceFriday 15 December Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Greece Global PriorityWednesday 13 December The CaribbeanWednesday 13 December Rest of the World (unless listed below)Wednesday 13 December Far East and AustralasiaFriday 15 December USA, Canada DHL Monday 18 December Rest of WorldTuesday 19 December Europe (EU and Non-EU)Tuesday 19 December USA, Canada and MexicoWednesday 20 December United Kingdom Priority postage: We do our best to post out items as soon as the balance of the invoice is settled. However, for your peace of mind, we also have a Priority Postage option for you at the payment stage. Priority postage will guarantee that your item is processed and dispatched the same working day as payment is received. Payment must be made by 1pm to qualify for same day dispatch. Payments made after 1pm will be dispatched on the next working day.
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The Peter Hayman Retirement Watch Collection

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Fellows
For over three decades, Peter Hayman has certainly been a distinguished name in the world of horology. His unwavering commitment to excellence and exacting standards have earned him a stellar reputation among both watch enthusiasts and luxury retailers. We are now proud to present The Peter Hayman Retirement Watch Collection as an exclusive one-off single-owner collection of extraordinarily high-quality watches. Peter Hayman’s Legacy Lot 51: Omega – a Constellation Iris ‘My Choice’ bracelet watch, 22mm. Estimate: £900 – £1,200. Peter’s journey in the world of watches began over 30 years ago. His dedication to horology led him to serve a discerning watch-collecting audience through online platforms and his renowned shop, Parkers Jewellers in Sheffield. Over the years, his devotion to quality and craftsmanship attracted over 40,000 loyal patrons and recognition from prestigious luxury retailers such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and the Conran shop. These esteemed establishments have come to appreciate the high quality and impeccable reputation that Peter has crafted and fostered. Here at Fellows, we have been working with Peter for over 20 years. As such, we feel privileged to host this exciting auction. Part 1 of the auction will be a live, in-person event. It features a carefully curated assortment of wristwatches renowned for their quality. Many of these timepieces come complete with service histories, original packaging, and accompanying documentation, adding to their value. Part 2 will include a selection of items from the repair side of Peter’s business, such as Rolex watch heads. These lots are sure to appeal to both aspiring and seasoned horologists. Auction Details With 34 luxury watch brands and over 209 lots, the auction offers an undeniably diverse array of wristwatches to tempt bidders. Many of these pieces are accessible, with an average lot value of around £1,500. We will provide free worldwide postage for all lots sold in this auction. One particular highlight is lot 130– the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner. This collector’s item dates back to 1991. It has remained a favourite among collectors for three decades. It’s waterproofing up to 300m or 1000ft and the Triplock winding crown makes it especially coveted by both divers and collectors! Estimate: £7,000 – £8,000 Another exciting watch is lot 49 an Omega Railmaster. This particular model has been nicknamed ‘Blue Jeans’ due to the brushed dial which gives it a denim look. It is an impressive piece, boasting a calibre 8806 movement which has a magnetic resistance of up to 15,000 gausses. Our Head of Watches, Kain Holroyd said: “It’s unusual and would be considered one of the rarer dials to acquire”. Estimate: £2,000 – £2,500 Lot 171 is a Les Historiques ‘Tour de L’ile’ wrist watch by Vacheron Constantin. This watch is a well-equipped timepiece that features a power-reserve function and a pointer date sub-dial. The smaller size of the watch, alongside the ornate lugs, give the watch a more vintage feel, connecting it to watches in Vacheron Constantin’s past. Interestingly, this watch features an engraving of the Tour de L’ile, a fortress and clock tower that was once home to the company. Built to control the Rhône river in 1219, Vacheron moved their operations into the tower in 1844 and remained there for the next thirty years. This watch celebrates Vacheron Constantin’s longstanding heritage in creating timepieces, connecting them to one of their most iconic locations. Estimate: £3,700 – £4,500 Peter Hayman Retirement Watch Collection Part 1 – Thursday 5th October 2023 Viewing times (Photo ID is required): London Wednesday 27th September 12:00-19:00 Thursday 28th September 9:00-17:00 Birmingham Wednesday 4th October 10:00-16:00 Thursday 5th October 8:30-10:00 Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Listen to Peter in conversation with his son, Michael. They discuss his life and career, as well as this exciting auction. Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Alexandra Whittaker BA (Hons) | Head of Partnerships and Events
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Pathway Project & Rediscovered By Danielle

Posted on September 15, 2023 by Fellows
This September, we are working with Danielle Bayliss from Rediscovered By Danielle to raise awareness for The Pathway Project. Pathway is a domestic and sexual abuse service based in Lichfield & Tamworth, Staffordshire. They offer a range of support services and run two refuges in the county. As part of a collaboration with us, Danielle picked out a set of pine bedside cabinets from one of our Antiques auctions to upcycle. She absolutely transformed the tables from plain, unloved pine to wonderfully colourful, unique pieces of furniture. All profits from these bespoke commissioned pieces will be donated to The Pathway Project. Rediscovered By Danielle Danielle Bayliss creates quality, hand-painted, bespoke, upcycled furniture from her workshop in Lichfield, Staffordshire. She hand-selects vintage and antique furniture which she then upcycles to create one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture for her clients. She chronicles her projects on her highly popular Instagram account, Rediscovered By Danielle. Here you can see her transformations in glorious technicolour. The recently upcycled matched pair of pine bedside cabinets feature Lot 405 in the upcoming Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables auction. The sale of this lot will raise money and awareness for The Pathway Project. The Pathway Project The Pathway Project is a domestic and sexual abuse service. Their vision is to build a future where adults and children affected by abuse live safely and free from fear. They work hard to ensure that every adult and child who seeks support from them is given an opportunity to engage in services that can help them make the journey from victim to survivor. To give you an idea of the scope of their work in Staffordshire, Pathway has shared some statistics from the last year with us. They have received 1,442 phone calls through their helpline. Helped 803 adults, children, and young people affected by domestic and sexual abuse through 6,824 hours of support. The demand for their services is immense but their resources are limited. Of the 840 referrals they received for their refuges, they were only able to place 76 families. This means that over 90% of those referrals were turned away – that’s 764 people.Donations are integral to the project’s success. Money raised not only pays for the items that service users need but also funds the front-line services that are in such high demand. If you would like to donate, you can do that via their website. You can also purchase items from their Amazon wishlist. The Pair of Bedside Cabinets Upcycled by Danielle Lot 405 A matched pair of pine bedside cabinets, upcycled by Danielle Bayliss for The Pathway Project. Estimate: £30 – £50 Danielle Bayliss from Rediscovered by Danielle said, “I was thrilled to be asked by Fellows to create something for such a worthwhile charity like The Pathway Project and really hope the tables raise some funds and awareness for the great work they do.” Debbie Thain, Community Outreach and Fundraiser Officer at The Pathway Project said, “We are so grateful to Danielle Bayliss and Fellows Auctioneers for choosing to support Pathway Project with this charity Lot in their Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables auction.  All the money raised from the upcycled pieces will help support victims of Domestic and Sexual Abuse in the local area. Often the men, women and children we support find themselves with absolutely nothing when fleeing abuse and your money allows us to help them not only emotionally but in a practical way whether they are in one of our refuges or the wider community.” Previous Collaboration with Danielle for The Pathway Project We previously worked with Danielle in December 2022. As part of a collaboration with us, Danielle upcycled and donated a chest of drawers to Pathway. The chest of drawers was given it to a family escaping domestic violence and abuse who were setting up a new home. Many of their service users have to leave home with very few of their possessions and need to start completely from scratch. It is not only clothes and homewares they need but furniture too. If you would like to try your hand and restoration or upcycling, we have quite a few pieces in our upcoming auction. Furniture items start from lot 352. Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Krishna Vara | Social Media Executive
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The Fellows Award: Horology & Jewellery

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Fellows
What is a Fellows Award? We are proud to sponsor two annual awards at Birmingham City University‘s School of Jewellery. The Fellows Award is given in two main areas of the school and our business, Jewellery and Horology. As a Jewellery Quarter-based company, we think it is important to support the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University. As well as the annual awards, we also offer paid internships and part-time employment to students during their studies. Many recent graduates go on to work with us in our Jewellery and Watch teams. Many BCU students will recognise our name from the Fellows Room at the School of Jewellery, used for teaching diamond grading. We are so grateful for the continued generosity of Fellows Auction House in recognising and rewarding our student achievement in what is a long standing relationship with such a valued employers of our graduates and a Jewellery Quarter neighbour.Jeremy Hobbins Deputy Head of the School of Jewellery A great evening, and an amazing opportunity for the students to showcase their work, and talk to the many industry contacts who attended.  The school and staff are all proud of the high levels of achievement, both academic and practical, demonstrated by students, which justifies it’s position as one of the leading educational providers in this field.Andrew Fellows Gemmology and Diamond Lecturer This year, we caught up with the two Fellows award winners Charlotte Royle and Alexander Downing to hear about their award-winning student projects. Valuation Module: The Fellows Award 2023 Part of the gemmology and jewellery studies degree at BCU jewellery valuation. As part of their degree, students are able to use purpose-built facilities at the Assay Office. We also often host students for practical days in industry at our Jewellery Quarter head office and saleroom. “I am absolutely delighted to have won the Fellows & Sons Award for Jewellery Valuations 2023 at the BCU Inspired Awards.  Its an honour to have won this award amongst my incredibly talented university peers, and I would like to thank my tutors at BCU Gemmology & Jewellery Studies dept for their unwavering help and support these last few years.  This award further ignites my desire to continue exploring a career in the captivating world of jewellery valuations.  Thank you Fellows & Sons for your generous award, I am truly honoured!” Horology Prize : The Fellows Award 2023 As part of their final year, horology students at Birmingham City University produce a Major Project. Alexander won the Fellows Award – the Horology Prize for Technical Application to Theory for his final year project. “I’d like to thank Fellows Auctioneers for their extremely kind and generous sponsor of the Fellows Prize. It gives me a great deal of comfort and reassurance to be recognised in such a niche subject as Horology and I hope that more companies will join in the support toward future student’s efforts.” Join the team We’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join the Fellows team. If that sounds like you, why not check out our employment opportunities page? We offer part-time work for current students as well as full-time roles to recent graduates. Fellows is one of the fastest-growing independent auction houses in the UK, holding close to 80 auctions every year. We offer excellent employment opportunities for those passionate about jewellery, watches, antiques, silver and collectables. Fellows remains a family business after over 140 years; we take pride in our friendly manner and excellent customer service. This helps to build long-term, supportive relationships with employees and clients alike. We would be keen to hear from anyone looking to join the auction world. Please email us your CV and a cover letter.
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Rebecca Struthers │Hands of Time: A Watchmaker’s History of Time

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Fellows
Rebecca Struthers may have not been part of our watch team for quite some time, but that doesn’t mean we have forgotten about her! As well as working at events together at exciting places like The Science Museum, she has given lectures for our watch fans. During her last event with us (over 150 people logged on during lockdown), there were many questions we didn’t get time to ask. Ahead of our next event together we wanted to chat to Rebecca and ask our most burning questions about her horological life and work. Photo credit: Mike Smith FELLOWS: I sit near to our watch team so am no stranger to how intricate watch movements are. I see how organised you need to be when dealing with the tiny parts that make up a watch. How much does the precision of horology feed into other areas of your life? REBECCA STRUTHERS: These days, my life away from the bench couldn’t be any more different from the precision I need for watchmaking. It’s something that’s grown over time so it could be because I’ve worked with them for so long now. They’re beautiful objects that can tell us so much about the people who made and wore them, but they’re just that, objects. We don’t have to be controlled by them if we don’t want to be. I’m not one for living my life to within the second, or minute, for that matter. Your book, Hands of Time, is wide-ranging as well as being stunning. Could you let us know a little bit about what the process was to design that beautiful cover and the illustrations inside. Is it all your handiwork? I approached the creation of this book in the same way I design and make watches. I’m a watchmaker. I’ll never be the artist that someone who does it every day will be in the same way I’ll never be as good as a lifelong engraver or enameller. I worked with a creative A-team! The cover artwork is by the incredible artist Holly Ovenden; long-term collaborator and friend, photographer Andy Pilsbury; and my husband, fellow watchmaker and illustrator Craig Struthers. He trained as an illustrator after leaving school and still draws every day. There is a lot of information in there but I am sure that you had to restrain yourself in some areas. Is there anything you wanted to include in your book but weren’t able to? Editing back the volume of material I’d researched and written was the hardest part of writing, there must be three times what’s in the book on the cutting room floor. If it wasn’t so important to stay on piste, I would’ve loved to have written more about how animals and plants keep track of the time. Nature is very important to me, I’m out in the garden whenever I have time and animal mum to an assortment of rescues. Given the vast subjects covered in the book, could you give us an insight into how you went about your research for it? Was it conducted over a very long period of time? Or, did you already have a lot of the information from your work and previous studies? There are parts of this book I’ve been researching for over 15 years and others I found for the book so it’s a combination. There’s also a lot of memoir, how I discovered watchmaking, started my training and descriptions of some of the amazing pieces I’ve handled over my career which enters its 20th year this year. That ages me! In 2017, you became the first watchmaker in British history to earn a PhD in horology. Can you tell us a bit about your thesis? Does its subject area feature in the book at all? My thesis was on the emergence of early mass produced watches. They were a kind of forgery which, as they were cheap and made no scientific impact, had been largely ignored by researchers. What they were was the beginning of accessible portable timekeepers which, in turn, revolutionised our personal time, particularly when we were on the move. It all started with me finding my first forgery signed under the pseudonym John Wilter while I was working at Fellows Auctioneers. It’s now the subject of Chapter 5 in my book – Forging Time. We were all working at a fun event at The Science Museum a couple of months ago where the theme was focused on fakes. Given your experience with researching fakes and dealing with them in your previous roles at auction houses, what would you say is the first thing to look for when spotting a fake? There’s a lot to be said about going with your gut, but, modern fakes can be really tricky. The quality of fake watches is getting higher and higher. The days of Rulexes with terrible quartz movements has long gone! For anyone looking to buy a watch, if you’re not 100% about what you’re looking for, it’s always best to check with experts and ask for advice. We have a lot of watch collectors and amateur horologists who bid in our auctions and come to our events. What would be the one piece of advice you would give to anyone looking to turn their interest in horology into a career as a watchmaker? Where did your interest in watches come from? I discovered watchmaking whilst training as a jeweller and silversmith. It just so happened that the course was taught in the same building. That was the British Horological Institute course which is now distance learning only. That’s great for flexibility and not having to move for study but challenging as you need workshop access. Unlike when I started out, there are some great 1-day watchmaking experience courses you can do at places like the Epping Forest Horology Centre. That’s a great starting point to figure out whether you like being at the bench. The watches you and Craig produce are such beautiful and intricate timepieces – I am sure a lot of work goes into each one. What is the most difficult watch you have ever made? They’re all challenging in their own way. The most technical has been Project 248 which was our first completely in-house movement. We’ve made virtually all the parts (except springs and jewels) ourselves. This is made from scratch using our stable of vintage and antique machines. It’s been a huge learning curve, and taken an awful lot longer than we expected, but an amazing experience. Rebecca Struthers, watchmaker.Photo credit: Andy Pilsbury You can buy your own copy of Hands of Time: A Watchmaker’s History of Time by Rebecca Struthers now. The Spectators’ Helen Carr said of the book: Struthers eloquently demonstrates that time can only be understood by humans in relation to nature, memory and mortality. She delivers her story through her professional understanding of horology and her personal relationship with the pieces she handles. Every page glitters with details of her experience and the people she has learned from. The book is evidence of a lifelong labour of love, and reading it is time well spent. In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking. Her book offers a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. Rebecca will be talking to us about her book, Hands of Time at our next event. It is an intricate and uniquely personal exploration of the history, science, philosophy, and craft of timekeeping. More information is available on our event page. Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can therefore find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available Alexandra Whittaker BA (Hons) | Head of Partnerships and Events
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Selbit’s Charming Sawing Souvenir

Posted on August 5, 2022 by Fellows
Magician P.T. Selbit originated one of the most recognisable magic tricks in the world- Sawing Through A Woman. At the time, commentators called the illusion a bloodthirsty and hair-raising spectacle. You can understand why! Percy Thomas Tibbles aka P.T. Selbit The man who came to be known as P.T. Selbit was born Percy Thomas Tibbles in Hampstead, London in 1881. As a young man, he became an apprentice to a silversmith which lead to his interest in magic. While working as an apprentice, he met magician Charles Morritt who had leased space at the silversmith’s shop. Tibbles learnt card tricks and illusions from Morritt’s collection, often studying them while the older man was away. In the early 1900s, Tibbles started to write and perform under a pseudonym derived from his own name. He reversed the order of the letters in his surname and removed one “b” to become P.T. Selbit. Over the next 20 years, he performed séances and illusions across Great Britain gaining in popularity. History Of Selbit’s Most Famous Illusion The most famous illusion act associated with the magician is Sawing A Woman In Half. The magic community largely credits him as the first person to perform this illusion in public. However, there was some controversy with American magician Horace Goldin who trademarked a similar trick shortly after Selbit debuted his trick. Selbit premiered his new illusion at the Finsbury Park Empire theatre in London on 17 January 1921 amid much publicity and scandal, which he courted. One ruse he thought up to promote this new venture was to publically dispose of fake blood in the theatre’s gutter in between shows. He also hired actors posing as nurses to take up positions in the theatre’s lobby and ambulances to drive around London advertising the show. Rumour has it that he offered renowned suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst money to appear in his show. We can not find any proof that she accepted his offer. How Does Selbit’s Trick Work? Selbit was clever in his conception of this trick. He involved the audience which made it even more believable. So how does the magician perform this trick? We won’t reveal his secrets, but you can watch the brilliant Penn and Teller show you how it is done on YouTube. The magician asks one or more of these audience volunteers to help tie ropes around the assistant’s wrists, ankles and neck. After the assistant has lain down in the box, the magician threads the ropes around their body through holes and asks the volunteers to hold them. The magician turns the assistant in their box to lie horizontally and places the box on trestles. They then slide plates through the box and ostensibly through the assistant. Next, the magician saws right through the centre of the box, dividing it into two. They then pull the sections slightly apart to show that the assistant is in two pieces. This gives the audience the impression that the saw blade must have passed through the assistant’s midriff. The big reveal comes when the assistant gets out of the box and is completely unharmed. P.T. Selbit presenting Sawing A Woman In Half | State Library Victoria W. G. Alma Conjuring Collection The Selbit Saw Souvenir Charm The charm that we sold in our Jewellery auction had amazing provenance. A woman called Gladys was given the charm in 1921 for taking part in the illusion. Her granddaughter tells the story: This gold saw was given to my grandmother by the Magician P.T. Selbit for “assisting” in his sawing through a woman in half act at his show at the Finsbury Park Empire in 1921. It has been kept by my family ever since.Members of the audience were invited on stage to help with the act and my grandmother took part. We can assume that Gladys was one of the people holding the ropes which must have been very exciting. The gold charm was fashioned as a saw with the engraving on it reading SAWING THROUGH A WOMAN WITH P.T. SELBIT’S COMPLIMENTS. It was only a small charm, weighing 1.5g, but a lovely piece of history. A wonderful souvenir of a pioneering magic act that has become iconic. We sold the souvenir for £1,885 on August 10th 2022. Valuations If you are looking to find out how much your items could be worth, why not speak to our specialists? Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple, so you can get a valuation now: Fill in a form online. In addition, you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. Moreover, you can book a virtual valuation appointment.
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Dive Watches

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Fellows
Any hobbyist will tell you that part of the fun of any hobby is getting all the gear. Scuba diving enthusiasts are no different – many sport fashionable dive watches. What is a dive watch? Divers use specialist watches to keep track of time spent underwater. This is really important for their safety to guard against conditions like the bends. Manufacturers have spent years tweaking their dive watches for the best possible use underwater. Dive watches need to be able to withstand immense pressure, be waterproof, and be legible in low visibility. The deeper a diver descends into the water, the visibility decreases and the pressure increases. Most brands will apply certain features as standard in their dive watches. They will fit their watches with luminescent minute markers to let the diver accurately read the time; a rotating bezel which allows the wearer to easily track the time that has elapsed; a screw-in crown and case back to ensure water resistance and an expandable strap to fit over a wetsuit. A good dive watch will be suitable for depths of 200 meters (660 feet) or more, depending on their intended use. Although the watches have all of these features, most serious divers will often use dive computers for more features and complex computations. At this point, many divers wear watches as symbols that identify them as scuba divers. When did dive watches become popular? Since Omega introduced the Marine watch in 1932, watch brands have competed to develop better and better sub-aquatic tool watches. These useful timepieces have gained more attention through decades of evolution. During World War II, the British, Italian and German militaries developed technology for their frogmen. After the war, recreational diving became more popular, leading to brands launching multiple special models designed with these divers in mind such as the Rolex Submariner and Omega Seamaster. They have proved extremely popular with collectors. In fact, some of the most collectable types of Rolex watches are those created in partnership with Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises, a specialised French commercial diving company.  Nowadays, there are hundreds of watch brands manufacturing dive watches. From the big-ticket brands such as Rolex and Omega to more affordable offerings from companies like Zodiac and Doxa, there are countless wristwatch options for the modern diver. Diving into a private collection We offered for sale a large and unique private collection of dive watches this summer. In our August 8th and August 30th watch auctions, we showcased an extensive private collection from a single collector. There are over 150 watches from different brands with varying depth resistances and features across the collection. The vendor spent over seven years between 2006 – 2013 building up this compendium of ocean-loving timepieces. There seemingly isn’t a place on earth (or beneath it) that hasn’t been explored in the owner’s search for watches. He spent time adding to his collection across the world, purchasing watches in places such as Singapore and New Zealand to name a few. He even found some of the watches on his sub-aquatic adventures. The Technos Sky Diver 1000m was lost by a diver and found by him on the ocean floor a couple of years later. Amazingly, it still works! The vendor kindly gave us an insight into his collection: “I’d always been interested in watches – particularly the vintage diving varieties – but this event galvanised me into a kind of collecting frenzy and though I’d not been diving much myself I just found them fascinating. Some of them, such as the Doxa Caribbean, the O & W Caribbean 1000, the Omega Seamaster ‘Banana Dial’, the Beuchat ‘Ushuaia’ Abyss, the Aquastar Benthos 1 Professional 1000m and the Precista Dreadnought PRS – 2 I’m particularly proud of as these are almost impossible to find now.” Dive watches at auction We featured in the Watches and Watch Accessories a 1970’s Zodiac Super Sea-Wolf. Zodiac originally released this model in 1953. They were one of the first watch brands to include a rotating bezel, pre-dating even Rolex with their Submariner. It has remained a fairly affordable divers’ watch compared to its more modern re-issues, which are also included in the upcoming 8th August Luxury Watch Sale, with their signature ‘Sawtooth’ bezels.  A less known-about but equally adored dive watch is the Jenny Caribbean 1000m. It was the first watch to reach a depth resistance rating of, you guessed it, 1000m. This is a watch for extreme diving such as wreck, altitude, and rebreather diving. If a more modern diving example is what you’re looking for, cast your eyes over to the Doxa 750T Caribbean. Released in 2002 and taking after its predecessor model the SUB 300T with an enlarged 45mm case this model is a diving fanatics favourite. Kain Holroyd from our watch team had this to say “A collection of this kind is as unique as some of the watches included. I think that there really is something for everyone included in these upcoming sales. If you wanted to make a splash with your avid watch-collector friends, it is definitely worth checking out.” Valuations We know from previous years that dive watches can achieve amazing prices at auction. In recent years we have seen two Kampfschwimmer watches with amazing history sell for over £105,000 combined. Moving forward in diving watch chronology, we have seen some fantastic results for the Rolex watches created in partnership with COMEX. Vintage COMEX Submariner and Sea-Dweller Rolex watches can sell for many tens of thousands of pounds. In 2014, we sold a Rolex COMEX Sea-Dweller for £43,000. If you are looking to find out how much your watch could be worth, why not speak to our specialists? Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will provide you with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. Fill in a form online, or you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. We can also offer you a virtual valuation appointment.
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WWII Luftwaffe Watch Discovered After 75 years

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Fellows
A couple of months ago, a family in Coventry were sorting through their late father’s possessions. They came across a drawer with assorted items in it including a medal, a ceremonial dagger and a pretty bashed-up watch. The family had no idea that the watch existed until that moment, let alone its value. Little did they know that it would turn out to be a highly valuable German WWII Luftwaffe watch. A Fellows blog saves the day Having done a bit of investigating, the family realised the watch must be a German military piece. A quick search online bought them to a very interesting article all about Luftwaffe watches. Encouraged by what they read there, they headed to the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham to see our watch specialists. What they discovered was truly amazing news. The Luftwaffe watch Our watch Cataloguer Kain Holroyd tells the story “From the initial contact with the Holyoake family this consignment has taken so many positive turns. We were firstly not aware to which of the four German B-Uhren brands this particular watch head belonged. Opening the case back to find that it was an A. Lange & Söhne was quite exciting.” The team started researching the watch. They discovered that the A. Lange & Söhne military issue pilot watch head was made circa 1942. A. Lange & Söhne only roduced 6904 Beobachtungs-uhren (B–Uhren) watches from 1940-1945. Pilots were issued a watch before each mission and returned it on completion. They weren’t held as part of their uniform so few were retained after the war and passed on. For this reason, they are in scarce supply and therefore valuable. You can find out more information on how military watches were commissioned and used in Germany in the 1940s here. Given the history and importance of this watch, the team valued it at £7,000 – £10,000. William Holyoake William Albert Holyoake, known to his friends and family as Bill, rarely spoke of his time overseas in WWII to his family. He never told them about the watch head that sat hidden in a drawer, among other German military keepsakes, for 75 years. It was only after he passed that his family discovered treasures locked in his desk drawer that he had put there on his return to England in 1947. William Holyoake enlisted for military service on 30th August 1944 in The Royal Engineers and was assigned to the 15th Field Park Squadron as a sapper. It was from his time in Central Europe during and in the aftermath of WWII that he acquired various items of interest.  As a young man, Holyoake had apprenticed Alfred Herbert Ltd. It was one of the world’s largest machine tool manufacturing businesses at the time. After his service in Europe during the Second World War, he returned to his hometown of Coventry to work as an engineer at The British Aerospace group (previously the companies Armstrong Whitworth and Hawker Siddeley). Holyoake worked on multiple military projects such as the Avro Vulcan bomber and Hawker Hunter jet fighter aircraft (used by the Red Arrows display team).  In his later life, he volunteered as a woodworking and metalworking tutor, sharing his skills with people with visual impairments. The Luftwaffe watch at auction We will offer the Luftwaffe watch for sale in our Luxury Watch Sale on August 8th. The auction will begin at 10 am. Viewings are available in London and Birmingham ahead of the auction day.London Tuesday 2nd August 12:00 – 19:00 Wednesday 3rd August 9:30 – 13:30 Birmingham Friday 5th August 10:00 – 16:00 Monday 8th August 8:30 – 10:00 Virtual viewings are available by request. Valuations If you are looking to find out how much your watch could be worth, why not speak to our specialists? Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will provide you with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. Fill in a form online, or you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. We can also offer you a virtual valuation appointment. WWII military watches If you want to find out what the British military was wearing in WWII, we have a lot of resources to share with you. The British Ministry of Supply for the Military requested watches which were suitable for the Army, Air Force and the Royal Navy, with manufacturers able to produce enough quantities within their capabilities. A few different manufacturers designed and delivered watches between 1944 and 1945. These watches became to be known as The Dirty Dozen. On 24th August we sold a full set of extremely rare Dirty Dozen watches for £27,000 (£34,452 including fees). We invited watch aficionado, author and journalist Simon de Burton to share his knowledge and passion for rare military watches. In a recorded event, he explored the history of watches used in military settings from as far back as the 19th Century to the modern day. You can watch it on YouTube here.
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The Fellows Award 2022: Horology & Jewellery

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Fellows
What is a Fellows Award? We are proud to sponsor two awards at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery each year. The awards reflect two main areas of the school and our business, Jewellery and Horology. As a Jewellery Quarter-based company, we think it is important to support the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University. As well as the annual awards, we also offer paid internships and part-time employment to the students during their studies. Many recent graduates go on to work with us in our Jewellery and Watch teams. At the Birmingham School of Jewellery, part of the Arts, Design & Media Faculty of Birmingham City University, we were delighted to welcome our industry partners to our Inspired Festival Awards Evening on Thursday 16th June. Fellows Auction House has been a long-term sponsor of several prizes awarded at this event. It is so good to have the support of local industry in supporting our courses and employing our graduates, so thank you to Stephen Whittaker and the team at Fellows.Jeremy Hobbins Deputy Head of the School of Jewellery This year, we caught up with the two Fellows award winners Anthony and Jacob to hear about their award-winning student projects. Valuation Module: The Fellows Award 2022 Part of the gemmology and jewellery studies degree at BCU jewellery valuation. As part of their degree, students are able to use purpose-built facilities at the Assay Office. We also often host students for practical days in industry at our Jewellery Quarter head office and saleroom. Anthony Dieu de Bellefontaine was the 2022 recipient of the Fellows Award in the valuation module. Anthony said the following about his experience: There were a few assessments for the valuation module. For one of the assessments, we visited Fellows where we were given two items to value for insurance purposes. Then, the next day back at the assay office we valued a third piece for probate. The other assessment piece was a timed exam in which we had to date silver items, identify products, describe different types of valuations, give a colour grade for a couple of gemstones, and value a ring. Since completing his degree, Anthony is now working full-time at The Assay Office. His role at the AnchorCert gem laboratory is as a Trainee Operational Gemologist where he is happy to be using the knowledge he acquired during the course. Horology Prize : The Fellows Award 2022 As part of their final year, horology students at Birmingham City University produce a Major Project. Jacob Worthington won the Fellows Award – the Horology Prize for Technical Application to Theory for his final year project. He chose to produce a carriage clock which is an 8-day duration with an engraved and silvered chapter ring. The clock is wound from the front with a highly polished click and clickspring seated below the chapter ring. Jacob said the following about his clock: As I am a keen watchmaker and watch enthusiasts there are nods to this in my clock. The chapter ring is engraved with indices that are inspired by the Bauhaus school of thought, ‘form follows function’ and watches like the Nomos Orion. Also, the outside of the front and black plate is textured which is inspired by Grand Seiko dial of the White Birch SLGH005. I am grateful to receive the Fellows award for Technical Application to Theory. To receive this award from such a historic and prestigious company is very special, especially considering they are located so close to the School of Jewellery. Jeremy Hobbins, the School’s Deputy Head said that this project was “an exemplary representation of his horological understanding and skillset that has earned him a job with Rolex already”. I have spent the last 9 months producing this clock in its entirety. I produced every thing in this clock apart from the platform and the screws. It demonstrates all the skills that Birmingham City University has taught me over the last 3 years. Join the team This year, we have already welcomed 4 current students to our Jewellery team as part-time assistants. Recent graduate Sam Jeens has joined our Watch department as a junior cataloguer. We’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join the Fellows team. If that sounds like you, why not check out our employment opportunities page? Fellows is one of the fastest-growing independent auction houses in the UK, holding close to 80 auctions every year. We offer excellent employment opportunities for those passionate about jewellery, watches, antiques, silver and collectables. Fellows remains a family business after over 140 years; we take pride in our friendly manner and excellent customer service. This helps to build long-term, supportive relationships with employees and clients alike. We would be keen to hear from anyone looking to join the auction world. Please email us your CV and a cover letter.
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Spitfire Pilot’s Caterpillar Club Sells for £2,000

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Fellows
A Spitfire pilot’s Caterpillar Club brooch sold for over £2,000 in the May Fine Jewellery auction. The 9ct gold red enamel brooch – awarded to Sgt. W. H. T. Farmer for his heroics successfully using a parachute to escape a falling aircraft. Caterpillar Club brooches were awarded to individuals who successfully used their parachute to escape a disabled aircraft. We have sold several Caterpillar Club brooches over the years – with many achieving prices well above their auction estimates. This Caterpillar Club brooch was a popular item with multiple bids coming from online bidding platforms as well as a telephone bidder. Although it was entered to auction with an estimate of £400 – 600, the telephone bidder was ultimately successful, securing the brooch for £2,169.20 (including fees). @fellowsauctions Sold! ✨A Spitfire pilot’s Caterpillar Club brooch sold for over £2,000 in today’s Fine Jewellery auction! 🐛The 9ct gold red enamel brooch – awarded to Sgt. W. H. T. Farmer for his heroics successfully using a parachute to escape a falling aircraft.#caterpillarclub #brooch #jewellery #jewelry #finejewellery #finejewelry #caterpillarbrooch #brooches #jewelleryauction #fyp ♬ original sound – Fellows Auctions Sgt Farmer Sgt Farmer flew Spitfire vb AD454 in in the no. 234 Squadron. He took off at 15:20 on 23rd July 1942 from Portreath, Cornwall. The aircraft and its crew were conducting a sweep between Plousecat and Guissény and was subject to enemy machine gun fire near Landerneau. The aircraft came down and Sgt Farmer was taken as a prisoner of war to Stalag Lamsdorf shortly after. Ben Randall, Senior Specialist and Catalogue Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “Much like an unassuming medal to the untrained eye, these tiny badges are a charming indicator of heroism and survival under immensely trying circumstances. Each badge tells a story that we would hope never needs repeating. “Sometimes it is the material value of a piece that explains its value. On other occasions it is the provenance, the history that you can hold in your hand. Don’t forget to check and see what treasures might be lurking in your family treasure chest.” Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple, so you can get a valuation now: Fill in a form online. In addition, you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. Moreover, you can book a virtual valuation appointment.
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Rolex Everose Highlights May Luxury Watch Sale

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Fellows
A magnificent Rolex 18ct Everose gold Oyster Perpetual Day-Date highlights our May Luxury Watch Sale. Rolex Everose The Everose is one of the most elegant Rolex watches we have ever had go under the hammer. It features as Lot 134A in the auction which takes place in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on Monday 16th May. Garnering an estimate of £55,000 – £65,000, the watch sports a beautiful Olive-green dial with a reference number of 228235. A box and papers are included with the Everose, which is in a good general condition with its movement functioning. Other Rolex Watches in the Auction The same auction features many Rolex watches which could fetch tens of thousands of pounds. An 18ct white gold Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona (Lot 98A) has an estimate of £28,000 – £38,000. There is also an Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II bracelet watch (Lot 105A), which has an estimate of £16,000 – £22,000, and a stainless steel Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller bracelet watch (Lot 133), which has an estimate of £20,000 – £30,000. These watches are included amongst several other Submariner and GMT Rolex watches in the auction. The total high estimate of all Rolex watches in the auction stands at over £450,000. The Auction The Luxury Watch Sale is our flagship watch auction. Over 200 watches from renowned brands as well as Rolex, such as Omega and Tag Heuer are all set to achieve strong interest. We are hosting the live sale at their Birmingham saleroom and customers can bid in person, over the phone, via internet bidding platforms or by placing a commission bid. Free shipping will also be offered on items sold in the auction, subject to terms. Physical viewing days will take place in London on 10th and 11th May, and Birmingham viewing days will be held on 13th and 16th May. Virtual viewings can be booked for free. Steven Yambo, Senior Watch Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “Our May Luxury Watch Sale includes hundreds of outstanding watches and the bids are already flying in. “We are set to auction a wonderful selection of Rolex watches which are all outstanding to look at. The Everose is one of the most stunning watches we have ever had go under the hammer and I can’t wait to see it sell.” Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple, so you can get a valuation now: Fill in a form online. In addition, you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. Moreover, you can book a virtual valuation appointment.
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Burmese Ruby Ring Smashes Auction Estimate

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Fellows
An early 20th century Burmese ruby and old-cut diamond ring has sold for a total of £19,140 (including fees) against an estimate of £2,000 – £2,500. The Burmese Ruby Ring The ruby ring was one of the top prices in Fine Jewellery – our live auction which took place in March 2022. Lot 302, the ring sold to a customer bidding over the telephone. There were several bidders over the internet and over the telephone. Furthermore, the ring received nearly 100 bids in the auction. Hosted in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, Fine Jewellery is the our flagship jewellery auction. Burmese rubies are some of the most precious gems in the world of jewellery. Moreover, most of these precious stones have already been mined out and they are often incredibly sought-after at auction. The ruby which sold in our auction was unheated, and it had a calculated ruby weight of 2.20 carats – with an estimate diamond weight of 0.65 carats. The band had been resized, but its diamonds appeared fairly bright and well matched. The Auction We sold over £700,000 of luxury jewellery in the Fine Jewellery auction. We offered free postage on items sold and there were physical viewing days in both Birmingham and London. A private seller brought the item to us. Ben Randall, Senior Catalogue Manager from the Jewellery Department at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “As soon as I saw this piece come across my desk I knew that it was special. Un-treated Burmese rubies of such size and good colour are a rare treat and the quality shone through on this ring. “As buyers’ palettes are becoming more discerning, pieces such as this are selling increasingly well at auction as shown today, this coupled with a beautiful period mount ensured a great result for the vendor and I couldn’t be happier.” Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple, so you can get a valuation now: Fill in a form online. In addition, you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. Moreover, you can book a virtual valuation appointment.
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