Thriving watch auctions at Fellows Auctioneers are seeing an increased demand for accessories.
Fellows Auctioneers achieved notably high prices during the Online Watches & Watch Accessories sale, a timed, online-only auction that took place 15th March. This is part of a in an increasing trend observed by the auction house. A Patek Philippe watch winder (Lot 616) sold for a full price of £1,059.08 (including fees), against an estimate of £300 - £400.
There were also over 50 bids for two decommissioned Rolex shop displays. One sign, depicting a tropical fish (Lot 630), sold for a full price of £280.72 against an estimate of £120 - £180; the other, depicting a cruise liner and a yacht (Lot 631), sold for £382.80 against an estimate of £120 - £180.

The bidding in this auction, which featuring 639 lots, began at 9am and closed deep into the evening. Such was the demand of the sale that it ran for 10 hours with around 1,150 bidders in total. A group of various watch tools, including parts of a lathe (Lot 619), sold for a full price of £433.84 against an estimate of £100 - £150.
Fellows Auctioneers’ auctions of watches and accessories have soared in demand, with record registrants and prices frequently achieved. Monday’s sale had just under 800 registrants on Fellows Auctioneers’ platform alone, and 368 on The Saleroom’s platform. The auction achieved a total hammer price of £205,000.
Highlight watches sold in the sale included a Movado triple date (Lot 83), which sold for a full price of £1,020.80 against an estimate of £200 - £300. A Breitling Navitimer chronograph (Lot 3) sold for a full price of £3,253.80 against an estimate of £1,200 - £1,800.

Kes Crockett, Watch Cataloguer at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “The strength of the market for vintage watches is accelerating and we are seeing watch accessories receive similar volumes of bids. A Patek Philippe watch timer flew above its auction estimate in Monday’s sale and this is a trend which I can only see increasing.
“Since we moved some of our watch auctions online over one year ago and our customers have got used to the format, the demand for these sales is on the up and we are sure this will continue throughout 2021.”