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The Royal oval astronomical watch with an engraved portrait of King James I made by David Ramsay circa 1618.

An oval astronomical watch with an engraved portrait of King James I made by David Ramsay c1618 sold for £989,000 in London today. The top estimate for the piece was £250,000. Exceptional timepieces from the most important private collection of English pocket watches made for a combined total of £3,021,063 at Sotheby’s. Considered one of the finest makers from the early 17^th century, Ramsay was the first master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers at its formation in 1632, as well as the Chief Clockmaker to the King.

A c1712-14 gold two-train quarter striking and quarter repeating pair cased clock watch with regulator aperture by Daniel Quare made £185,000: a gold half quarter dumb repeating consular cased pocket chronometer created by John Arnold in 1782 made £245,000 and a c1770 octagonal candle lamp with inset watch by James Cox made £155,000. This was the first of the four auctions of a collection which is being offered under the title of ‘The Celebration of the English Watch’ over the course of 2015-2016. Charting the history of British watchmaking from the early 1600s through to the present day are 317 museum-quality pieces which illustrate the often neglected status of British watchmakers as pioneers in their field.  It includesall the greatest innovator, from Thomas Thompion to Robert Hook (inventor of balance spring, c1660), to George Graham (who introduced the sweep seconds hand in the early 1700’s), to Thomas Mudge (lever escapement, 1765) and John Harwood (self-winding wristwatch movement).  The second sale, to take place on July 7, 2016, will explore the  legacy of John Harrison, the man who found Longitude.