Skinner Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments
Fine Horology: The Estate of David G. Newsom
Live Auction October 22, 2021
Online Auction October 13−20, 2021

MARLBOROUGH, MASS. — This October the clocks, watches and scientific department at Skinner will feature two distinct sales, a live auction, Fine Horology: The Estate of David G. Newsom, on October 22, and a timed online auction running October 13-20.
The Newsom collection is the result of a lifetime of learning and passion for the art of timekeeping. From simple time-only watches to grand complicated minute repeaters with perpetual calendars, made by the most interesting and sought-after makers, purchased and pursued throughout the world: Switzerland to Germany to the States, via auctions or private dealers or collectors, there is not a watch or timepiece in this collection that was not highly regarded.

The collection features some of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s finest accomplishments, including a rare No. 2835 astronomical quarter-repeating watch that George Daniels described and illustrated in his book The Art of Breguet, and Breguet’s No. 2729 “Une Minute” tourbillon watch, for which it took Newsom, a close friend and the Breguet Depuis 1775 firm five years to correctly reproduce the engine-turned 18K gold case, chain and key as they had been lost decades ago. Another highlight is Michel Parmigiani’s “Meccanica I” Unique Object Reference U1140, presented to Newsom and his wife Carol, a testament to Newsom’s appreciation for watchmaking across history.
The online sale, running October 13-20, will feature an array of timepieces, optical instruments and early musical devices. The sale begins with a collection of Swiss, European and American watches by some of the most sought-after brands, including Patek Philippe, Waltham and Hamilton Watch Co.

Kicking off a group of mechanical wristwatches that have been sourced from around the United States, are an early stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 3700/1, a rare Patek Philippe Reference 2526 18K gold automatic wristwatch and an early Gallet first-generation “Flight Officer” chronograph wristwatch with its original radium handset.
Hans Wildorf’s sport model watches from his Rolex line must not be overlooked — the sale will offer a few Cosmograph Daytonas and a special Rolex 18K gold Reference 16758 “Serti” dial GMT Master wristwatch with box and papers. There are also watches that fall into the classic dress watch category, including some “ultra-slim” examples by Audemars Piguet and Vacheron & Constantin.

Early clocks by makers that are not often seen at auction include an Isaac Thomas carved curly walnut tall clock, Willis Town, Chester County, Penn., circa 1765, and a “dwarf” clock made by Joshua Wilder from Hingham, Mass. Enameled French shelf and carriage clocks will be offered as well.

A small but impressive collection of microscopes from a New England collector includes an unmarked French Oberhauser-style drum microscope and accessories and an Elliot Brothers compound binocular and monocular microscope.
Early photography includes two Deardorff large-format studio cameras.
The sale concludes with a musical concerto of disc and cylinder musical boxes from the late Nineteenth Century by some of the best Swiss firms.
Previews, free and open to the public, will be conducted October 18-21, by appointment. For information, 508-970-3201 or www.skinnerinc.com.

508.970.3201 clocks@skinnerinc.com watches@skinnerinc.com
1 Van Cleef & Arpels Platinum Jump Hour and Digital Watch 2 Ilbery No. 5966 Gold and Enamel
Pocket Chronometer Produced for the Chinese Market, enamel work attributed to the Jean-Louis Richter
workshops, c. 1810 3 Breguet No. 2835 Astronomical Quarter-repeating Watch, sold on March 23,
1825 4 Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Nautilus Reference 3700/1 Wristwatch 5 Joshua Wilder Dwarf
Clock, Hingham, Massachusetts, c. 1825, case attributed to Abiel White 6 Asa Munger Flat-top Shelf
Clock, Auburn, New York 7 Unmarked French Oberhauser-style Drum Microscope and Accessories