MARLBOROUGH, Mass.— This October the Clocks, Watches & Scientific department at Skinner will feature two distinct sales: a timed online auction that closes October 20, and a live auction, Fine Horology: The Estate of David G. Newsom, on October 22. View the fully illustrated catalogs on LiveAuctioneers.
The Newsom Collection is the result of a lifetime of learning and passion for the art of timekeeping, from simple time-only watches to grand complicated minute repeaters with perpetual calendars, made by the most interesting and sought-after makers.
The collection features some of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s finest accomplishments, including a No. 2835 astronomical quarter-repeating watch that George Daniels described and illustrated in his book The Art of Breguet, and Breguet’s No. 2729 Une Minute tourbillon watch, for which it took Newsom, a close friend, and the Breguet Depuis 1775 firm five years to correctly reproduce the engine-turned 18K gold case, chain and key, as they had been lost decades ago.
Another highlight is Michel Parmigiani’s Meccanica I Unique Object Reference U1140, presented to David and his wife Carol, a testament to David’s appreciation for watchmaking across history.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3700/1, est. $60,000-$80,000. Image courtesy of Skinner, Inc. www.skinnerinc.com
The online sale, which closes October 20, will feature an array of fine timepieces, optical instruments and early musical devices. The sale begins with a collection of Swiss, European and American watches by some of the most sought-after brands including Patek Philippe, Waltham and Hamilton Watch Co. Highlights include an early stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 3700/1, and a Patek Philippe Reference 2526 18K gold automatic wristwatch.
Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 18K gold automatic wristwatch, est. $20,000-$30,000. Image courtesy of Skinner, Inc. www.skinnerinc.com
Hans Wildorf’s sport model watches from his Rolex line must not be overlooked — Skinner will offer a few Cosmograph Daytonas and a special Rolex 18K gold reference 16758 Serti Dial GMT Master wristwatch with box and papers. Also showcased are watches that fall into the classic dress watch category, including some ultra-slim examples by Audemars Piguet and Vacheron & Constantin.
Early clocks by makers that are not often seen at auction include a circa-1765 Isaac Thomas carved curly walnut tall clock, from Willis Town, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and a so-called “dwarf” clock made by Joshua Wilder from Hingham, Massachusetts. Beautiful enameled French shelf and carriage clocks will appear in the lineup as well.
A small but impressive collection of microscopes from a New England collector includes an unmarked French Oberhauser-style drum microscope and accessories and an Elliot Brothers compound binocular and monocular microscope.
Joshua Wilder dwarf clock, est. $7,000-$9,000. Image courtesy of Skinner, Inc. www.skinnerinc.com
Early photography includes two Deardorff large format studio cameras.
The sale concludes with a musical concerto of disc and cylinder musical boxes from the late 19th century by some of the best Swiss firms.
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