Bonhams Scotland Appoints Sarah Fergusson as Senior Specialist in Watches

Sep 30, 2023 | Business

Edinburgh – WEBWIRE –

Bonhams has appointed Sarah Fergusson as their Senior Specialist in Watches. As part of the Scotland team, Fergusson will be located at Bonhams newly launched Scottish Headquarters and Saleroom in Melville Crescent, New Town.

The role will also cover the North of England as well as contribute to Bonhams international watch auctions. Bonhams Watches department holds 13 auctions a year in London, Hong Kong, Paris and online, with offices and representatives in 22 countries.

Sarah Fergusson, Bonhams Senior Watch Specialist commented, I am thrilled to join Bonhams Scotland at such an exciting time. Bonhams Watches department are the UK market leader for watches at auction, setting record prices for timepieces. I greatly look forward to building on this success and expanding the opportunities for our Scottish clients.

Fergusson has been in the auction industry for over 12 years. Initially working as a jewellery specialist, her focus quickly shifted to watches. She has been responsible for sourcing and auctioning significant pieces including an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak A-series (model 5402ST) circa 1972, that sold for 106,000.
Fergusson began her career at a Glasgow-based auction house in 2011, moving to Edinburghs Lyon & Turnbull in 2020 to take up a newly created role as Head of Watches. There, she set up a focussed department hosting four specialist sales per year, two in Edinburgh, and two in London.

Fergusson is also co-host on the Scottish Watches podcast, the number one watches podcast internationally and regularly writes for Oracle Time magazine. She is a keen collector and enthusiast; watches are both a professional and personal passion. As such, she is an active participant in the Instagram watch community and a member of RedBar, the watch collectors group that boasts chapters all over the world.

Sarah Fergusson joins Bonhams this September.

28 September 2023

Bonhams New Bond Street Fine Watches Auction Blows Up

Jun 11, 2023 | Business

WEBWIRE –

Fine Watches

21 Jun 2023

London, New Bond Street

Rolex. A historically interesting stainless steel automatic wristwatch worn by Vanessa

Redgrave in the 1966 film Blow Up

Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1966

Cult 1960s film Blow Up Rolex offered at auction for the first time

London, New Bond Street – Bonhams Fine Watches sale on 21 June will have on offer a watch that has been sought over the years with many regarding it as one of the most coveted watches seen on the silver screen the Rolex Reference 5513 Submariner worn by Vanessa Redgrave in the cult 1960s film Blow Up has an estimate of 20,000-30,000.

The Rolex Reference 5513 Submariner, circa 1965, has become a holy grail of watches with Rolex enthusiasts long discussing the whereabouts of the watch with it being assumed lost or destroyed, in fact the watch has been in the possession of a member of the original Blow Up production team, a construction manager who went on to work in the film industry for over 50 years. His involvement in the production allowed him the opportunity to buy props which had been purchased for the film. He bought the Blow Up watch immediately after the film finished and has owned it ever since.

Blow Up, a 1966 thriller directed by Michelangelo Antonioni is set in Sixties swinging London and follows fashion photographer Thomas, (David Hemmings) who goes on to unknowingly capture a death on film after following two lovers in a park. Vanessa Redgrave plays Jane, the elusive woman pictured in them.

The Rolex Reference 5513 Submariner heading to auction, is worn by Redgrave throughout the film and is seen on a leather strap as opposed to the traditional stainless-steel Oyster bracelet, and in many scenes, visibly worn over the sleeve of her shirt. At the time, it was unusual for a female to wear a mens watch so prominently on screen, also highlighted with the next most famous mens Rolex watch worn by Honor Blackman as Bond spy Pussy Galore. The Blow Up cult classic is being offered at auction for the first time and is accompanied by provenance letters.

Jonathan Darracott, Bonhams Global Head of Watches, said: There is extensive interest in such an important and sought after Rolex with the provenance of being worn by a leading British star in a cult film. In one of the Rolex services sadly the original Explorer dial was replaced with the current baton and round marker version. Our Fine Watches auction is an opportunity to purchase an unforgettable timepiece with classic British Sixties cinematic history.

Bonhams Watches London Springs Into Action With Successful Season Opener

Feb 25, 2023 | Business

London, Knightsbridge – WEBWIRE –

Watches and Wristwatches22

Feb 2023

London, Knightsbridge

Patek Philippe. A recently serviced 18K gold automatic calendar wristwatch

Aquanaut, Ref: 5066J-001, Purchased 2nd February 1999

Bonhams Watches London sprang into action on Wednesday with a resounding success for its season-opening sale at Knightsbridge which achieved a total of nearly 990,000 and 87% sell-through rate (96% by value).

The sale offered a diverse selection of timepieces, from early pocket watches to contemporary tool wristwatches, reflecting various styles, tastes and periods, with all sectors performing well.

Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet were the dominant names in the sales top ten, with particularly strong results for:

An 18K gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut automatic calendar wristwatch, circa 1999, a water-resistant design featuring a sporty rubber strap, which sold at top estimate for 35,580. This watch reflected the current demand for larger dials.

An Audemars Piquet Royal Oak Offshore, stainless steel automatic calendar chronograph wristwatch, circa 2015, sold above estimate for 16,575.

Another impressive result was achieved by an early Heuer Autavia chronograph wristwatch, reference 2446, circa 1960, which sold for 19,125. Celebrating TAG Heuers two historical pillars of automotive and aviation, the Autavia was initially used as a dashboard timer for cars and aircraft before transforming into a wristwatch.

The current clamour for Cartier continues, with timepieces from the house selling well, notably a circa 1905 platinum and diamond set pendant watch which made 11,475, exceeding its top estimate.

Watches with hardstone dials also performed well, their unusual designs now firmly in the mindset of general collectors.

Penelope Andrews, Bonhams Head of Watches in London, said We are delighted with this weeks results and it is a great way to start the year here in London. There has been a lot of talk lately of prices softening but the consistently strong prices achieved on Wednesday show that the market is continuing to be stable and resilient.

The next Knightsbridge sale to be staged by Bonhams Watches will take place on 11 May.

Bonhams’ Australia Jewels to Present Collection of Joan Crebbin

Aug 10, 2022 | Business

Australia – WEBWIRE –



Australia Jewels


9 Aug 2022


Sydney


GERALD BENNEY | GOLD CUFF,


Circa 1964 


Bonhams is delighted to offer to market the jewellery collection of the late Joan Crebbin, who with husband Dick Crebbin, amassed an elegant and innovative collection including pieces by some of Britain’s most celebrated and sought-after jewellers.


Dick Crebbin, who died in 1989, was a founding director of Marrickville Holdings, which produced brands including Miracle Margarine and ETA Peanut Butter. He was also an art administrator, appointed chairman of the interim council of the Australian National Gallery in 1974, under the Whitlam Government, and becoming the first chairman of the permanent council under the Fraser Government.


Joan Crebbin died two years ago, aged 94, and Bonhams is offering 64 lots of her jewellery, representing most of her collection. The Crebbins were celebrated for their love of art and design, and lived in a Walter Burley Griffin-designed home in the Sydney harbour-side suburb of Castlecrag.


Fiona Frith, Senior Specialist, comments, ’Joan Crebbin’s collecting started in the 1950s so some pieces are quite formal. In the 1960s, Joan moves into the avant garde, with pieces by Andrew Grima, Rod Edwards, and Gerald Benney. It’s such a treat to see one person’s collection and evolution in taste.’


The collection features some wonderfully crafted pieces by leading international jewellers, including a gold cuff bracelet from circa 1964 by the Yorkshire-born Gerald Benney, one of the most outstanding gold and silversmiths of the 20th century. So highly regarded, at one point in his career Benney held no less than four Royal Warrants, producing exceptional pieces for members of the Royal Family including Queen Elizabeth II and the late Queen Mother.


There are also pieces by Englishman Roy King, whose clients included musicians The Beatles and Tom Jones, as well as Australian Rod Edwards. Although synonymous with British jewellery, Edwards was born in Australia and studied sculpture and design Sydney. He moved to England in 1954 and became a jewellery apprentice. By the 1960s, he was recognised as a unique voice, exhibiting at Goldsmith’s Hall in London.


Later in life, Joan Crebbin’s collecting shifted away from the diamond and sapphire encrusted bracelets of her youth. She acquired many pieces from celebrated Danish silversmith Georg Jensen, and 24 lots are featured in this sale.

Bonhams Appoints Katelyn Matusik Director of Trust & Estates for the Midwest

Jul 17, 2022 | Business

New York – WEBWIRE –



Bonhams appoints Katelyn Matusik as Director of Trusts & Estates for the Midwest, based in Chicago. An experienced professional in the auction and appraisal industry, Matusik will provide localized support and strengthen Bonhams presence in the region. In this role, Matusik will be responsible for developing and nurturing relationships with estate planning attorneys, trust officers, wealth managers, and other professional advisors throughout the Midwest. She will provide fiduciaries and families with tailored appraisals, proposals for sale, and disposition services for personal property ranging from fine art and jewelry to collectibles and motor cars.


Prior to joining Bonhams, Matusik spent seven years at Hindman Auctions in Chicago, holding roles in the Asian Works of Art department and in Business Development as well as Trusts & Estates, and Appraisals. In her last position as Director of Appraisals and Valuations, she established a new Appraisals department for the firm and oversaw the department nationally while maintaining relationships with trust and estate professionals and private clients.


During her tenure at Hindman, Matusik was involved with many significant collections and estates including those of James M. Kemper, Jr., Joan Crancer, Marion and Henry Bloch, William Lipton, Robert and Carolyn Springborn, Marilyn Eber, and many others. Additionally, she assisted in securing the Stanley Field Early Ming bowl, which fetched $1.4 million at auction.


“Katelyn is joining Bonhams at an exciting, transformational time,” said Sherri Cohen, Bonhams, Head of Business Development, North America, “we are growing at a lightning speed pace and there are increasing opportunities for us to compete for major collections in every region of the world. Katelyn’s extensive experience in the Midwest will be a tremendous asset and we are thrilled to have her on the Bonhams team.”