Gold Magazine May - June 2013, Issue 26 | Seite 80
investing in timepieces
Tick, tock goes the musical clock
D
espite their inherent
charm, vintage wristwatches may have met
their match: the mellifluous tones of the musical
clock and exquisite history of the pocket watch have been calling
collectors and connoisseurs the world over
who, it seems, simply cannot resist the distinguished tick-tocking of old-time clocks. A
sample of recent sales is sure to astound:
1. A fine rock crystal, lapis
lazuli, jade and emerald
boudoir clock belonging to
watch and jewellery house,
Cartier, sold at auction in
December of 2012 at Bonham’s
New York for $116,500. Created in the year
1929, the clock features 15-jewel adjusted
lever movement and the case is set within an
arched panel of rock crystal, gold bezel and
engraved gold hands.
2. An intricately-decoratedonce
18 century musical clock,
th
owned by the penultimate King
of Egypt, King Farouk, also sold
in December 2012 – this time at
Bonham’s at New Bond Street
– for €480,000, far surpassing its estimate of €178,000
to €296,000. The musical clock, playfully
described by Bonham’s as like a ‘ye olde
jukebox’, belonged to the repertoire of James
Cox (c.1723-1800) of Shoe Lane, London.
By trade, Cox was actually a goldsmith and
jeweller as opposed to watchmaker, perhaps
explaining the elaborate design of agate and
silver.
the demand, forcing collectors and connoisseurs to focus their attention on searching
for the unique and unmatchable.
Consider, for ^[\K H NM