Watch Auctions Surge as Vintage and Luxury Pieces Hit the Block

The calendar of watch auctions is filling up fast, with a mix of online, live and timed events that underline three clear trends. First, the move toward digital accessibility is evident from the earliest ending auction – Dorotheum’s online watch sale (Sep 5) – which offered a two‑week preview window before the final bid, letting collectors from around the world inspect vintage timepieces without travelling. A day later, the Fortuna live auction wrapped up (Sep 9) featuring a curated blend of fine jewellery and high‑end watches, highlighting the growing appeal of combined luxury offerings.

September 10 proved to be a watershed day: five separate auctions closed, each with a distinct format. O’Reilly’s timed auction, Ross’s online auction, Halls Holdings’ in‑person sale, Midway’s indoor live auction, and Duke’s live event at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum all listed watches alongside jewellery, signalling that regional houses are now routinely slotting watch lots into broader luxury programmes. The following week saw specialist watch segments at Sheffield (Sep 11 and Sep 13) and Wessex (Sep 12), where antique and contemporary watches were paired with silver and jewellery, underscoring a growing appetite for mixed‑category catalogs.

Later in the month, Locke & England’s Leamington Spa auction (Sep 15) and the same‑day Silver, Jewellery & Watches auction at Sheffield (Sep 25) reinforced the demand for both vintage and modern pieces, from classic Hanhart military watches to contemporary Swiss brands. Gardiner Houlgate’s dedicated watch auction (Sep 24) marked the first stand‑alone watch‑only event in the series, focusing exclusively on collectible wrist‑ and pocket‑watch movements.

The momentum continues into October with Auction House North East’s Silver, Jewellery and Watches auction (Oct 1) and extends to November when C&T Auctioneers closes its Coins, Watches & Jewellery bidding (Nov 9). Collectively, these auctions illustrate a market that is expanding its digital reach, integrating watches with broader luxury collections, and carving out specialist events for serious horology enthusiasts.

Based on 100 digest summaries · Generated September 9, 2025

Barsby Auctions @barsbyauctions

September 4, 2025 —

Barsby Auctions is excited to announce a series of upcoming auctions in September 2025, showcasing a diverse range of art, jewellery, and antiques. On September 6, the auction will feature Australian and International Art, starting at noon with lots numbered 1 to 200. The following day, September 7, will focus on Estate Jewellery, Watches, Coins, and Stamps, also beginning at noon with lots 1 to 550. Later in the month, on September 20, an Estate & General Auction will take place at noon, featuring vintage collectables and various estate items (lots 2001 to 2600). This will be followed by an ONLINE-only Antiques & Collectables auction on September 21, starting at noon, which will include ceramics, furniture, silver, oriental items, glass, clocks, and more (lots 1001 to 1850). For those interested in selling, Barsby Auctions is currently inviting entries for future auctions. Visit their website for more details and to explore the exciting lots available.

Lockdales Auctions Ltd

September 4, 2025 —

Lockdales Auctions Ltd is set to host several exciting auctions in September 2025. The upcoming Banknote Sale will take place on September 9-10, featuring a variety of banknotes for collectors and enthusiasts. Following this, the Coins & Militaria Auction is scheduled for September 16-17, showcasing an array of coins and military memorabilia. For those interested in valuation services, Lockdales offers dedicated valuation days for jewellery, watches, gold, silver, coins, and banknotes throughout early September, including sessions on September 4 and September 8. As a leading auctioneer in Suffolk, Lockdales specializes in coins, militaria, jewellery, antiques, and collectables. For more information on upcoming auctions and to view catalogues, visit their website.