John Moran Auctioneers will host a session of Rare and Important Timepieces all taken from the hands of a single private collector tomorrow morning. The 123 watches up for bid range from vintage 19th-century pocket watches to contemporary models from brands like Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, and Rolex.
George C. Shreve & Co. pocket watch for Patek Philippe & co., circa 1885, 18K gold, est.: $20,000/30,000
The list of noteworthy pocket watches includes a number of Railroad Grade models dating from the late 19th through the turn of the 20th century and beyond, many by Ball Watch Co. A circa 1902 Ball Watch Co. Railroad Grade pocket watch featuring a Keystone case with floral engraving will head to the block with a $6,000 to $9,000 auction estimate. The earliest example offered by the maker is a Ball & Co. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers pocket watch, Series VIII, Grade IX with a special dial dating to 1893. The 1893 example is expected to bring between $2,000 and $4,000. Patek Philippe & Co. wristwatch, circa 1975, 18K gold self-winding perpetual date, est.: $60,000/90,000
Other fun finds include a San Francisco gold rush watch dating to 1850 made by early San Francisco jeweler J.W. Tucker. Arriving in San Francisco shortly after the town’s population explosion began in the mid-19th century, Tucker began as an importer but soon began making watches and accessories to appeal to those who had been made rich by the booming San Francisco econom...