Tag Archives: watchsale

Talk to me about Tudor watches…

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Fellows
Want to know more about Tudor? Luckily for you, Kes Crockett from the Watch Department at Fellows Auctioneers, has delved into the history of Tudor and what makes the brand so special. Here at Fellows we have the privilege of auctioning a huge variety of watches from the humble Swatch to the mighty Patek Philippe, but amongst the ever-growing list of manufacturers, one brand remains king, Rolex! Last year Rolex accounted for a staggering 24.9% of the global Swiss watch market with retail sales of around $8.5 billion. The Coronavirus pandemic only saw their share rise, from 22% the previous year, and this trend shows no signs of slowing. However, as any Rolex fan will tell you, there has been a cost to this growing popularity, and that is a chronic shortage in supply for its most coveted models- stainless steel sports watches. It has been a few years now since your aver-age enthusiast could walk into their local Rolex AD, hand over some hard-earned cash and walk out with a shiny new GMT- Master II or Submariner ‘Hulk’. Daytona? Forget it. Undoubtedly a frustrating situation for genuine buyers who are now forced to make a choice; buy from the grey market at higher prices, or take their business elsewhere to one of the many other luxury watch houses. Tudor Watches Which brings us to Tudor. Tudor would be best described as the sister company to Rolex, both being owned by the Hans Wilsdorf foundation. Although the first Tudor signed watches hit the Australian market during 1932, the company ‘Montres TUDOR S.A.’ was not formed until 1946, at which point Rolex committed to guarantee the technical, aesthetic and functional characteristics, along with the distribution and after-sales service of the brand. Good to know. Clearly though, it wouldn’t be the wisest business decision for Rolex and Tudor to compete directly with one another, and for that reason, until quite recently, there has always been a defining difference between the two brands; the movement. Whilst Rolex has generally used in-house movements for their watches (we will ignore vintage Daytonas), Tudor utilised more affordable ETA based calibres. This allowed them to occupy the space of ‘entry level luxury watch’, leaving Rolex room to dominate the higher echelons. A Poor Man’s Rolex? Whilst a shrewd strategy, it has sometimes led people to view Tudor as the ‘poor man’s Rolex’, which to me at least seems a little unfair. Such criticisms will often be made by the same people who mock the Porsche Boxster owner for not being able to afford a 911, having driven neither car themselves. Rolex’s reputation (and they have been recognised as the RepTrak ‘world’s most reputable brand’ more than once) is built on the foundation of producing high quality, reliable, durable, water resistant watches that last a lifetime. This remains the case but as the price of ‘Daytonas’ and ‘Submariners’ rise, now might be the time to consider Tudor alternatives more seriously. Are Tudor really the ‘poor man’s Rolex’? With David Beckham, Lady Gaga and The All Blacks amongst their current brand ambassadors, this full time watch cataloguer and part time blogger doesn’t think so. The reality is that Tudor make excellent watches. Rolex materials and craftsmanship without the premium price tag. Tudor Watches Sold at Auction Lot 151 – 18/5/23 TUDOR – a bronze Black Bay wrist watch, 43mm. Price Realised: £2,470 Lot 153 – 18/5/23 TUDOR – a stainless steel Black Bay Fifty-Eight bracelet watch, 39mm. Price Realised: £1,820 Lot 127 – 16/3/23 Tudor titanium Pelagos bracelet watch, 41mm. Price Realised: £2,600.00 Lot 128 – 16/3/23 Tudor stainless steel Black Bay bracelet watch, 41mm. Price Realised: £2,340.00 Lot 165 – 19/4/21 Tudor gentleman’s stainless steel Prince Date Hydronaut bracelet watch. Price Realised £1,531.20 Lot 168 – 19/4/21 Tudor gentleman’s stainless steel Prince Date Tiger chronograph bracelet watch. Price Realised £3,445.20 Auction Details The Luxury Watch Sale | Thursday 13th July 2023 Viewings London Tuesday 4th July 12pm – 7pm Wednesday 5th July 10am – 5pm Birmingham Wednesday 12th July 10am – 4pm Thursday 13th July 8:30am – 10am 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 in order to buy with confidence. Find out more here. Please contact info@fellows.co.uk to book a virtual viewing. Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up for our emails. 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. You can also set up lot alerts, to tell us exactly what you are looking for. Our personal shopping service will make sure that you are the first to hear about it. 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. Kes Crockett BA (Hons) | Watch Department
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Talk to me about the Omega Speedsonic…

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Fellows
We are no strangers to Omega watches here at Fellows. Followers of our auctions will be familiar with many of the brand’s models. Alongside the classic dress watches of the 60s, we have sold Seamasters and Speedmasters, Cosmics and Constellations, Dynamics and De Villes. We have even sold one of 2022’s most talked about timepieces, the MoonSwatch which you can read more about here. Omega Speedsonic One of the more unusual references, and one we have only seen a handful of times previously, is the Omega Speedsonic. Similar in appearance to the Speedmaster, this battery-powered chronograph was a creation of the 1970’s. It was created as the Swiss tried to respond to a quartz revolution from the East. Unlike most battery-powered watches though, the movement in the Speedsonic uses a tuning fork to ensure accurate timekeeping. Technical details The calibre in question is the Omega 1255 which is a rebranded version of the ETA 9210. Viewed by many as the pinnacle of tuning fork movements, around 21,000 of these units were produced. Omega was one of a number of brands utilising them in their watches. The f300Hz designation seen on the dials of these watches relates to the 300 hertz at which the tuning fork vibrates. Built on the calibre 9162, the 9210 added an extra complication in the form of a chronograph module, a task outsourced to movement specialist Dubois Depraz. When looked at from the side, the movement has visible layers, like a triple-decker sandwich, with each responsible for a different feature. Sitting directly below the dial is the calendar platform which also houses the second half of the chronograph mechanism. Below this is the second layer which houses the other half of the chronograph mechanism. Then comes the main plate with all of the hand setting (keyless) work. Finally, the fourth layer, the oscillator. It contains everything needed to drive the movement, including the coils, tuning fork, index wheel and electronics. Unfortunately, locating a watchmaker happy to work on these movements can be tricky. Therefore finding one in good working order can be a challenge. If you do though, you will be rewarded by the unmistakable humming sound that only a tuning fork watch can provide. Unlike more conventional quartz watches, the seconds hand sweeps smoothly around the dial rather than jumping from one second to the next. Quartz accuracy with the character of a mechanical watch? Maybe. Omega Speedsonic at Auction The Luxury Watch Sale, which took place on November 28th featured one such Omega Speedsonic chronograph. With its stainless-steel case, reference 188.0002, housing the chronometer grade movement, the sumptuous grey dial has a lovely balance. And, with both day and date displays, it has all the functionality you could wish for. The watch is fitted to a stainless-steel bracelet with a folding clasp. It represents an excellent opportunity for someone looking to add one of the more interesting watches of recent times to their collection. Whilst the quartz crisis very nearly killed off the mechanical wrist watch, it actually did finish the less economically viable tuning fork movement. With an achieved price of £1,300, Lot 61 was a relatively affordable way to purchase a piece of horological history. 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. 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
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Limited edition joker watch comes with its own magic box

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Fellows
An intriguing watch inspired by the role that the character of the joker has played through the centuries is number 11 of 777 ever created. Designed as part of a limited run in 2002 by Corum, the Bubble Joker watch is to be auctioned on Monday 19th April by Fellows Auctioneers. A magic box containing a pack of playing cards and a scroll detailing the role the joker character has played throughout history is included with the lot. Also included is an undated international warranty card in a wallet and a cleaning cloth. The Corum Bubble Joker watch With an estimate of £800 – £1,200, It features as Lot 40 in the Luxury Watch Sale, a live auction taking place in Birmingham. The origin of the Bubble term was created by Severin Wunderman, who bought Corum in 2000. Influenced by a deep-sea dive watch from the 1960s, they became a range of watches which were designed to be oversized with a larger crystal. The Bubble Joker was one of many original designs created by Corum in the following years. The watch for sale at Fellows appears to be in exceptional condition, with the movement still working. The scroll alongside the lot includes the wording: “In ancient Europe, the royal court was the home of jesters, jugglers, and jokers. Today, the joker is associated with card games as the most versatile and powerful card in all games.” The watch sports a stainless steel case, with an automatic movement and a quick date set. The box which is sold alongside the watch The joker motif is displayed on the dial with black and white quadrants. There are Arabic numeral three, six and nine, with a date aperture to six. Measuring 45mm, the watch is fitted to a signed bi-colour rubber strap with a double folding clasp. Offered as part of Fellows’ Luxury Watch Sale, the auction features many premium timepieces from a variety of brands. Viewings can be booked in person at London or Birmingham on selected days, and virtual viewings can also be arranged for the timepiece. Kes Crockett, Specialist from the Watch Department at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “The Bubble Joker is one of the more vibrant watches we have up for sale on 19th April. These watches were designed in very limited numbers, and the attention to detail by Corum to elegantly display the joker on the watch is superb. “The timepiece is being sold alongside its interesting original box which helps to capture the feel of the Joker. With the watch being so limited, the box being original, and the general good condition of the lot, I anticipate it will be in high demand during our Luxury Watch Sale.”
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Rolex Turn-O-Graph

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Fellows
Fellows’ Senior Watch Specialist, Steven Yambo, has researched two beautiful Turn-O-Graph Watches ahead of the upcoming auction. The Rolex Turn-O-Graph could be said to be the most overlooked watch in Rolex history. Generally, the public tend to focus on other watches Rolex has produced, which include a rotating bezel – the Submariner and the GMT Master are examples. However, it was the Turn-O-Graph that was the first Rolex production to feature a rotating bezel when launched in 1953. The Rolex Submariner and GMT didn’t come along until the following year. The Turn-O-Graph could be seen to be the first Rolex ‘tool’ watch and is certainly viewed as the first ‘tool’ watch to be offered in two-tone yellow gold and steel rather than just stainless steel. ROLEX – a gentleman’s bi-metal Oyster Perpetual Datejust ‘Turn-O-Graph’ bracelet watch The Turn-O-Graph has also gained the nickname of ‘Thunderbird’ throughout time. A member of the American USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (established in 1953 and was the first supersonic aerobatic team), started wearing the watch and it soon became the squadron’s go-to timepiece. The name ‘Thunderbird’ was ideal for promoting the watch in the American market due to the patriotic nickname, something that Rolex capitalised on by referring to the watch as ‘The Thunderbird’ in their advertising. ROLEX – a gentleman’s bi-metal Oyster Perpetual Datejust ‘Turn-O-Graph’ wrist watch. Fellows are fortunate to offer two Turn-O-Graph’s in the Online Watches auction on 22nd June. Both of the watches are in steel and yellow gold. Lot 183 dates from 1965 and has an estimate of £900 – £1200. Lot 214 comes on a Jubilee bracelet and has an estimate of £2000 – £2500. With the high prices that other Rolex ‘tool’ watches, such as the Submariner, Explorer and GMT Master, are changing hands for, these Turn-O-Graph could prove to be a wise buy.
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Vintage Patek Philippe Ref. 1579 could fetch £65,000 at auction

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Fellows
An extremely rare Patek Philippe could fetch in excess of £65,000 at Fellows Auctioneers. Lot 185 in Fellows’ upcoming Watch Sale, taking place on Tuesday 13th August 2019, is the 18ct yellow gold chronograph wrist watch which has been dubbed “spider lugs” due to its unusual back. The lugs on the watch are unique and intriguing in their size and spider-esque appearance. It is rare to find one in such good condition. The watch, reference 1579, dates back to 1952 and is estimated at £55,000 – £75,000. This yellow gold Patek Philippe has a larger diameter (36mm) than the majority of vintage pieces, which complements its appearance. Along with the rare, alluring lugs which gained the watch its “spider” nickname, the vintage timepiece comes with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives – detailing its history. A similar watch was sold by Sotheby’s for 87.500 USD in December 2017. Lot 185 – PATEK PHILIPPE- an extremely rare and significant gentleman’s 18ct yellow gold chronograph wrist watch. The watch has a signed manual wind movement, and is numbered 868278. It has a silvered sunburst dial with applied pyramid hour markers, Arabic numeral six and twelve, subsidiary sunken recorder dials to three and nine, with an outer tachymeter track. Lot 185 in the upcoming Watch Sale, the Patek is fitted to an unsigned black crocodile strap with a gold plated pin buckle. Laura Bishop, Watch Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “We are very honoured to have such a rare and special watch up for sale with us. In my time at Fellows we have never had such an exciting Patek Philippe watch go through one of our sales. I can’t wait to see how it does in relation to the estimate we have put on it. The fact that it comes with an extract from the archive makes this watch an irresistible watch for collectors. I can’t wait to watch the bidding unfold for this extraordinary watch.” The Watch Sale is now available to view online and in person at the following times: 6 August 2019 12noon – 7pm (London) 10 August 2019 11am – 4pm (Birmingham) 12 August 2019 10am – 4pm (Birmingham) 13 August 2019 8.30am – 11am (Birmingham) Photo identification is required to gain access to the viewing.
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Fellows is the UK’s leading regional auction house

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Fellows
Fellows are delighted to announce that we are now the leading UK regional auctioneer by hammer total after recording overall sales of £17million in 2017. This is according to Antiques Trade Gazette, who ran an in-depth auction report regarding sales of regional auction houses in 2017. We have been continuingly growing as a company in recent decades, with increasingly popular watch and jewellery auctions thriving as each month goes by. We are delighted to be leading the way for regional auction houses with exciting consignments and an already strong start to 2018. We have sold many exciting items in the past few months, such as an in-house record for watches being broken following the sale of a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss for a total price of £139,400 (including buyer’s premium) in November 2017. Furthermore, in December 2017 we sold a Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Ring by Graff Diamonds for £1,307,600 (including buyer’s premium). The sale of the Graff ring was the top price in the UK for a regional auction house in 2017 and the first seven-figure bid from a regional saleroom since 2012. Continue reading →
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WWII Watch Sells For Over £52,000

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Fellows
One of the most fascinating items in the history of Fellows has just gone under the hammer with a sale of an extremely rare and historic Second World War Panerai military Diver watch. The Panerai had a hammer price of £41,000 and a price realised (fees included) of £52,316, it sold at approximately 12:24pm during Fellows’ Watch Sale on Tuesday 30th January 2018. Bids came flying in from three telephone bidders as they went head to head to head. The tension could be felt across the room as the asking price for the Panerai quickly grew to above £30,000. There were gasps amongst the saleroom as the winning bidder placed £41,000 on the watch. This watch came into the possession of a British soldier during the Second World War. George H. Rowson acquired the watch from a Kampfschwimmer (German frogman), during a thwarted attempted on behalf of the German forces to destroy the important Nijmegen Bridge in the Netherlands, in September 1944. The incident occurred following the Battle of Nijmegen Bridge. The aim of the battle was for the Allies secure the bridge in order to gain quick access to the Dutch city of Arnhem. Part of a wider initiative known as Operation Market Garden, Allied airborne and land forces attempted to liberate the cities of Eindhoven and Nijmegen in the Netherlands from German occupation. This model of Panerai watch was initially intended for the Italian Decima MAS until they were taken by the Germans. The German Kampfschwimmer who owned the watch is known to have recieved special training in Italy and wore an Italian-made specialised rubber dive suit. According to Rowson’s first-hand account of the incident, at 06:30am on Sept 29th 1944, German Kampfschwimmers fixed charges underwater to the main supports of the bridge at Nijmegen. Once the German soldiers had completed their mission, they exited the river thinking they were back within their own lines. At this point, they were captured by a section of British soldiers which included Rowson. The charges they had placed were defused and so Nijmegen Bridge remained undamaged. The timepiece was eventually passed down to Rowson’s son and has remained in single ownership since, having been worn only a few times. The Panerai was sold with a hand-written account of the event by Rowson, a section of the rubber diving suit acquired from the German soldier, and photocopies of important documents related to Rowson. Laura Bishop, watch manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “It is amazing to have a piece of history sell at Fellows Auctioneers. We are delighted to have been able to sell it for the local family.” Alexandra Whittaker, a spokesperson for Fellows Auctioneers, said: “Fellows is becoming known for our monthly specialist watch sales and we are happy to have started out first sale of the year with such a prestigious piece as our star lot. I am excited to see what our February Watch Sale will bring.” Fellows’ next Watch Sale will take place on Tuesday February 27th, starting at 11am. The auction is available to view in person at the following times: 20 February 2018 12pm – 7pm (London) 24 February 2018 11am – 4pm (Birmingham) 26 February 2018 10am – 4pm (Birmingham) 27 February 2018 8.30am – 11am (Birmingham)
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Record-breaking Rolex sells for £110,000!!

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Fellows
A vintage Rolex in our November Watch Sale has sold for £110,000 (plus Buyers Premium), setting a new house record for a price achieved by a watch at auction. This Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss dates from 1958 and was given an estimate of £40,000 – £60,000 ahead of the auction which took place today, Tuesday 28 November. Lot 281 from the Watch Sale – A gentleman’s stainless steel Oyster Perpetual Milgauss bracelet watch. Hammer price: £110,000 This watch had been in single ownership since purchase and had been worn regularly which was reflected in its condition. This didn’t stop the enthusiastic bidders throwing their hats into the ring. Following lively bidding on the phone, in the room and on the internet, the watch far exceeded its original estimate to sell for £110,000, not including Buyers Premium. Continue reading →
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Root Beer Rolex

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Fellows
Please note when reading this article, the watch for auction is not the same item Clint Eastwood wore. Fellows’ upcoming Watch Sale on Tuesday 31st October features an array of majestic timepieces. Lot 279 in the sale is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date GMT Master II ‘Root Beer’ Bracelet Watch, estimated at £3,800-£4,800. The watch is the sought-after ‘Root Beer’ variation of the iconic GMT Master II watch, which received its nickname ‘Root Beer’ due to the colour of the bezel. The watch is a very much in-demand Rolex model, which has aged nicely, still holding its seventies/eighties vibe with its black dial and luminous hour markers. The Rolex GMT Master II ‘Root Beer Bracelet Watch in Fellows’ upcoming Watch Sale. Estimate: £3,800-£4,800 Continue reading →
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