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timeless
Take a minute and let THOMAS PLANT advise you on what
to watch out for at auction when you are looking for a new,
but old, timepiece
This Seiko 1639 is best
known as Pogue with its
snazzy Pepsi-style dial. Prices
of these have quadrupled in
the last few years and they
now go for a minimum of
£200, with good examples
even selling for £600.
I
n the auction world, the wristwatch market is
diversifying.
Of course, the big and often expensive makes
such as Rolex, Cartier and Patek Phillippe are
still sought after by collectors, but, in addition,
other brands are clocking up interest in the
saleroom.
There is less competition for the more modern,
but still iconic makes such as Casio, Seiko,
Omega, Junghans, Skagen or Bulova, which can
be bought from £100 at auction, making them
accessible to those who are buying the watches
to wear as well as those who are buying for
investment.
Wristwatches evolved from spring-powered
clocks in the 17th century.
They developed from pocket watches and were
first worn on the wrist during the First World War,
making it much easier for the soldiers to see the
time at a glance.
Watch design has certainly come a long way
since those days.
With the advent of smartphones, a watch is no
longer a necessity, rather an accessory, or a
luxury depending on your price bracket.
Don’t be put off, as you can find a watch for all
budgets at auction.
We sold a 1960s 9ct gold ladies Tissot wristwatch
in our February sale this year for £168– it came
with its original box and guarantee.
In the same sale, a vintage Cyma as well as a
gent’s Tissot wristwatch went for £168.
A few months ago we also sold a vintage
gentleman’s Omega Automatic wristwatch for
£180 and a Jaeger Le Coultre went for £504.
Seiko is perhaps the most well-known name in
Japanese watches.
From the Seiko Kinetic automatic chronograph
to the classic diver’s watch, the company has a
watch for every occasion.