Four very interesting auctions will take place in the last month of 2012. These high-end watches are sure to be very appealing to those who do not mind paying an astronomical price for a truly exceptional timekeeper. Bonham's will organize three of these sales, and Antiquorum will hold the fourth. Franck Muller Replica Watches Reference 50016 with its unique black and crimson dial is the most intriguing of all the pieces to be auctioned off in December. This timepiece has a tourbillon, a minute-repeater, moon phases, and a perpetual clock (valued between $500,000 and $700,000). The sales will also feature watches by the same high-end manufacturer: Reference 5079, with automatic winding and cathedral minute repeater (valued at $400,000-$480,000); and Reference 2499, with perpetual calendar with moon phases and chronograph (valued between $250,000 and $350,000). This month,franck muller replica watches a wide range of incredible watches will be available. Some of them are priced in six figures.
The first auction, according to chronology, will take place on December 12, and it's the Fine Clocks Sales of Bonham's London. On the following day, December 13, there will be two more auctions: Bonham's bicoastal Fine Watches and Clocks Auctions in the United States and Antiquorum’s Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces Auctions in New York. Bonham's will hold their final Fine Watches and Wristwatches sale in London on December 18.
Bonham's Fine Clocks Auction, LondonThe first major horological sale in December will feature several interesting clocks. The one by James Cox is likely to be the most popular. The musical table clock is made of agate panels and mounted on silver. It has been decorated with the ormolu technique. This intricate clock has a moonphase indicator and is sold with its original key, signed by James Cox. The legendary craftsman, best known for his musical clocks and automata,U-Boat Replica was not a professional watchmaker. He was a jeweler and goldsmith. Cox collaborated with artisans to create products that he had designed. Cox was also a designer of small luxury pieces, such as snuffboxes or caskets. These often featured movements and watches and were sometimes used as elements in compositions on a larger scale. His products were primarily intended for export. Today, many of his creations can be found in museums around the world (for instance, his life-sized automaton peacock is on display at Hermitage, Saint Petersburg).
James Cox: A Lavish Intricacy in a Musical ClockThe clock, which will be auctioned at the first December auction, is an excellent example of Cox’s complex work and the many details that are included in his products. The entire composition is based on a commode of that period. A silver dragon figure is placed on the top of this commode, above the dial. The dragon is mounted on an urn. Other elements include silver flowerheads set with stones, agate panels and ormolu borders. The enamel dial at the top (with poker hands and steel beetles) is the only element that strictly relates to watchmaking. There are also a moonphase, a gilt subsidiary counter and an enamel dial with a steel bug. The whole composition measures 14.25 inches in height. It is not surprising that this mid-18th century piece has an estimated value between $240,000 to $400,000.
James Cox Musical Clock
Musical Clock with Turkish Dial and French Table RegulatorApart this item, the auction will also offer another musical clock made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and a French desk regulator. The first item, valued between $64,000 to $96,000, is a six-tune musical clock with two subsidiary dials and a glass cupola on top. It also has a silvered Turkish Dial. The clock has a similar richly-decorated design and is equipped with a triple fusee with a verge escaping mechanism and 12 hammers and chimes that play the tunes. The third piece of extraordinary value at the Bonhams clock auction is a table regulator, made by Hubert Sarton of the Bishopric (located today in Belgium) in the style of Hubert Sarton. The product, which is shaped like an inverted "Y", has four dials with date and week counters and a twin train spring barrel with a grid-iron pendulum. It also features a moonphase indicator. It also features lavish ornaments, including gild, ormolu, and marble pestals, as well as a moonphase display that shows a nighttime view of Vesuvius. The estimated price for this piece is $64,000-80,000.