Spring Fine Art Sale: Fine Jewels and Rare Watches

Fine jewels and rare vintage and luxury watches are set to star in Tennants Auctioneers’ Spring Fine Art Sale on 23^rd March, with exceptional examples of rare models by Rolex and Omega rubbing shoulders with oversized Luftwaffe Aviator’s watches and a private collection of fine jewels.

Rolex’s are highly sought-after on the auction market, and top of the sale is a very rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a ‘Patrizzi’ dial (reference: 16520/16500) estimated at £25,000-30,000 (plus buyer’s premium). The stainless-steel automatic chronograph was made in 1996 and features the famous golden-brown discolouration on the sub dial chapter rings, first noted by Italian watch specialist Osvaldo Patrizzi, after whom the dial is named. A much sought-after model, the watch is sold with its original boxes and paperwork.

For vintage watch collectors, are a 1958 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Super Precision Explorer (reference: 5504) is on offer with an estimate of £6,000-8,000 (plus buyer’s premium), and a 1966 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner (reference: 5513) on offer with an estimate of £5,000-7,000 (plus buyer’s premium). This rare example of the Submariner saw the first use of the matte dial rather than the previously used glossy dial. It also known by collectors as a ‘Meters First’ model, as it displays the metric depth rating followed by the imperial rating. At the end of the 1960 Rolex switched to display the imperial measurement first.

Also on offer is a very rare Omega 1962 Pre-Professional Moonwatch Speedmaster Second Generation (reference: 2998-62) estimated at £14,000-16,000 (plus buyer’s premium). This is the same model worn by NASA astronaut Wally Schirra in 1962, when it became the first Omega watch to be worn in space. A rare 1997 IWC ‘Pilot’s’ Der Fliegerchronograph (reference: 3705) is offed with an estimate of £3,000-4,000 (plus buyer’s premium). This limited-edition watch was only in production for two or three years, and around 2000 were made.

A significant private collection of fine jewellery from The Estate of the late Drs. Kamal and Margaret el Shamy, comprising over forty lots by leading jewellers such as Andrew Grima, Van Cleef & Arples, Boucheron, Tiffany and Cartier, will also be included in the sale. Highlights from the collection include an 18 carat rose gold, quartz and diamond pendant necklace by Andrew Grima (estimate: £3,000-5,000 plus buyer’s premium), a collection of novelty brooches by Cartier, such as a 1960s ruby, emerald and diamond bird brooch (estimate: £3,000-5,000 plus buyer’s premium) and a Cartier Maillon Panthére bracelet (estimate: £3,000-5,000 plus buyer’s premium).

Further highlights from the Jewellery Section of the sale are a fine platinum ring with an emerald cut 3.3 carat diamond (estimate: £15,000-20,000 plus buyer’s premium), a diamond pendant necklace with an oval cut yellow-green diamond within a border of brilliant cut white diamonds (estimate: £10,000-15,000 plus buyer’s premium), and a platinum diamond ‘Raindance’ ring by Boodles (£16,000-18,000 plus buyer’s premium).

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