Ahead of Fellows Auctioneers' next Watches & Watch Parts sale, we caught up with Steven Yambo, watch specialist at Fellows, for advice on vintage collecting.

 

  1. Following on from our previous blog, how do you feel the last Watches & Watch Parts sale went, back in June?

Very well, unusually vintage pieces sold very well – examples include a Swiss Empire Chronograph, which sold for £240, and a Big Yema Chronograph which sold for £520 (both on the front cover below).

The Watches & Watch Parts sales are growing and getting better, we are one of the only auction houses in Europe to offer watch parts, tools, and we are attracting horologists and enthusiastic amateurs. We hope to attract the watch collector who doesn’t necessarily have the budget for a £1000 Rolex.

Watch auctions London June 2018 Watches & Watch Parts front cover

  1. What are some of your favourite vintage watches in this sale, and why?

Absolutely loads,

Lot 19 – A great example of a seventies diver’s watch. Lot 166 - Has great chronograph with amazing seventies styling. Lot 190 – An unusual watch dating to the seventies. Lot 164 – A nice example of a “skin” diver’s watch which are becoming increasingly popular – designed for scuba diving and not going into deep water. They were virtually throw away watches in the sixties and seventies – but because so many were destroyed they are now very sought-after.

 

  1. Are there any vintage watches you would like to see come up for auction more often?

I would live to see more interesting diver’s watches – they are disappearing into private collections even though they are very popular. The same thing seems to be happening with vintage chronographs.

Second hand watches auction Steven Yambo, Watch Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers

  1. Why do you think buying a vintage watch at auction is a better alternative than buying it elsewhere?

It can work out cheaper – obviously no one knows what an auction price is going to be.

 

  1. Do you get more excited about the Watches & Watch Parts sale or the Watch Sale, and why?

I like the Watch Parts sale because they have a huge variety of watches and it is more affordable. However, we get hold of rarities and watches which you would never usually see in the Watch Sale.

 

  1. Moving back to this sale, which takes place on the 24th, what are your expectations?

I expect the vintage sixties and seventies pieces to sell well as there is strong demand for them. Also I expect to see some new faces at the auctions, attracted by these new watches.