LONDON.- A comprehensive collection of privately sourced wristwatches from the finest watchmakers will be sold as part of a series of luxury auctions at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Donnington Priory saleroom in Berkshire on Wednesday 9th July, alongside Fine Jewellery, Silver, Pens and Luxury Accessories.

Leading the sale will be an Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak gentleman’s 18 carat gold wristwatch. Inspired by brass divers helmets the collectible and iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was a revolutionary timepiece that shook the watch industry when it was first introduced at Basel World in 1972.

Steeped in nautical and British history the state-of-the-art waterproof wristwatch was named after the eight battleships of the British Royal Navy, themselves budded from the tree within which King Charles II hid from the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Widely regarded as one of Audemars Piguet most iconic watches this timepiece remains popular with the collector and is estimated at £6,000-8,000 [Lot 221]

Representing Breguet is a gentleman’s 18 carat white gold Breguet Classique, circa 2007, ref. 5930, no.1411AA. The elegant timepiece is offered within a Breguet travelling case with a spare strap, it is estimated at £3,000-5,000 [Lot 222]

Highlights for the Jager LeCoultre enthusiasts include a gentleman’s stainless steel triple date wristwatch, circa 1945, ref. 348048, estimated at £2,000-3,000 [Lot 243] and the classic, art deco styled, gentleman’s 18 carat gold Reverso Grande GMT wristwatch, estimated at £5,000-8,000 [Lot 244]

Of note for the collectors is a J W Benson Blitz limited edition 18 carat gold rectangular wristwatch, circa 1990, ref. 81750, no. 024/100. The rare series used dials and movements that were found in a vault of a Benson factory that survived the German air raids during World War II. In a J.W. Benson box with a replacement movement, no. 25882, this collectible watch is estimated at £1,500-2,500 [Lot 242]

The sale will be held on Wednesday 9th July 2014 at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Donnington Priory saleroom in Berkshire. Viewing at Bloomsbury House from Sunday 29th June – Tuesday 1st July and at Donnington Priory from Saturday 5th July until the day of the sale.

Further Highlights
• Cartier, a lady's 18 carat white gold wristwatch, circa 1930, ref. 24318 05000, no. 3255, the two piece screw down case with back wind and set, the silvered dial with black Arabic numerals and blued steel hands, 17 European Watch & Clock Co. duo plan movement with eight adjustments, bimetallic balance and flat balance spring, the case 34mm including lugs, 10mm wide, on an integral bracelet with fold over clasp. [Lot 210] Est. £3,000-5,000

• Patek Philippe, Ellipse, a gentleman's 18 carat gold wristwatch, circa 1970, ref. 3546, no. 2661727, the three piece case with blue dial, baton numerals and hands, 18 jewel Patek Philippe movement adjusted to heat-cold isochronisms and five positions, cal. 23-300, no. 1146856, the case 34mm including lugs, 27mm wide, on a black strap with a fold over clasp, with a spare silvered dial. [Lot 249] Est. £2,500-3,500

• Patek Philippe, Gondolo, a gentleman's platinum wristwatch, circa 1995, ref. 5014, no. 4026186, the two piece screw down case with black dial, raised Arabic numerals, baton hands and subsidiary seconds dial, 18 jewel Patek Philippe movement adjusted to heat-cold isochronisms and five positions, cal. 215, no. 1860436, the case 36mm including lugs, on a black strap, in a Patek Philippe leather box, with outer card packaging. [Lot 250] Est. £5,000-8,000

• Rolex, Daytona, a gentleman's stainless steel chronograph wristwatch, circa 1991, ref. 16520, no. X808458, the two piece screw down case with black dial, raised luminous baton numerals and hands, subsidiary dials running seconds, hours and minutes, 31 jewel Rolex automatic chronograph movement adjusted to five positions and temperature, cal. 4030, no. 71155. [Lot 259] Est. £4,000-6,000

• Rolex, Milgauss, a gentleman's stainless steel wristwatch, circa 2013, ref. 116400, unnumbered, the two piece screw down case with green glass, the black dial with raised luminous baton numerals and hands and lightning bolt centre seconds hand, 31 jewel Rolex automatic movement with dust cover, adjusted to five positions and temperature, cal. 3131, no. 33082264, the case 49mm including lugs, the case 41mm, on a block link bracelet with fold over clasp, in a Rolex box with outer card packaging, guarantee, card and two spare links. [Lot 263] Est. £2,000-3,000