Largest and best watch auction creates Australian history
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 26th June, 2025
The largest and best gents watch auction in Australian history – one man’s collection conservatively valued at $2.2 million – will be held online, closing from 7pm Monday June 30, at Melbourne-based Philips Auctions 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.
Collected mainly over the past 12 months, the 96 watches feature many of the best and most popular brands on the market.
Made from various metals including, titanium, white and yellow gold and stainless steel, many of the watches have other features such as moon faces, dates and stopwatch mechanisms.
“While we have placed catalogue estimates on each of the lots, the entire collection is unreserved,” Philips Auctions director Tony Philips said.
Some of the better-known names include Patek Philippe, Piaget, Rolex, Cartier, Longine, Breguet, Chopard, Girard-Perregaux, Tag Heuer, Omega and Czapek.
Typical of the collection is a 2024 Rolex Explorer II Oyster Black (lot 63) and a 2023 Lange & Sohne 18-carat white gold specimen with a silver dial and black leather band (lot 92).
The watch auction is preceded by online decorative arts and jewellery auction closing from 9.30am on the same day.
Particularly striking is the bronze Cartier model of a panther (lot 76) while some of the furniture items are worth closer examination including an impressive Louis XV style tulipwood partners desk (lot 386) and a fine French mahogany glazed display cabinet by Mercier Freres (lot 389).
A 19th century French furniture and tapestry making firm, Mercier Freres was founded in 1828 by Claude Mercier.
The firm participated in most of the late 19th century major exhibitions boasted Spanish and Iranian royalty amongst its clientele.
During that time, Mercier Freres concentrated on 18th century Louis XV and Louis XVI styles but by the early 20th century had begun experimenting with popular art deco.
Among the silver items on offer is a circa 1900 (late Qing Dynasty) Chinese export three-piece tea service (lot 179) carrying the mark of Zee Wo from Shanghai.
A major feature of the jewellery auction is an 8.99-carat Columbian emerald in a cluster dress ring (lot 83) with a $42,000-$44,000 estimate.
Impressive is the 22-carat gold Egyptian style serpent’s head, twisted solid bangle (lot 88), while a pear-shaped emerald and double diamond halo cluster ring (lot 99) would make the perfect gift.
A Plat GIA certified oval cut diamond and half eternity ring (lot 52) is another possibility, along with an elegant two-tone 18-carat gold diamond Chimento bracelet (lot 59).
Not to be ignored is the platinum art deco sapphire and diamond bracelet (lot 63) or the 18-carat brilliant cut diamond and pink Argyle diamond ring (lot 66).
