Meet The Specialist
Charles Dower
What is your current position at Bonhams?
I'm a Specialist in the Bonhams Watch Department in London Knightsbridge where we hold four auctions a year, along with two Fine Watch sales at New Bond Street.
Lot 30. Rolex. A Stainless Steel Automatic Calendar Bracelet Watch with Dual Time Zone, GMT Master 'Pepsi', Ref: 1675, Circa 1966, £ 10,000 - 15,000.
Lot 30. Rolex. A Stainless Steel Automatic Calendar Bracelet Watch with Dual Time Zone, GMT Master 'Pepsi', Ref: 1675, Circa 1966, £ 10,000 - 15,000.
Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the auction world?
I spent my early years in Pluckley, Kent - supposedly the most haunted village in Britain - then moved to rural mid-Wales when I was seven. I grew up in a 16th century Tudor house and so have always been fascinated by antiques and history. I have also regularly attended auctions and flea markets from my early teens.
Lot 36. Heuer. A Fine Stainless Steel Automatic Calendar Chronograph Square Wristwatch, Monaco, Ref: 1133, Circa 1970, £ 8,000 - 12,000.
Lot 36. Heuer. A Fine Stainless Steel Automatic Calendar Chronograph Square Wristwatch, Monaco, Ref: 1133, Circa 1970, £ 8,000 - 12,000.
What was your first job?
My first job in the auction world was a general valuer and auctioneer for Adam Partridge Auctioneers covering Cheshire and the Merseyside area. I joined Bonhams in 2017 as a junior watches cataloguer in the Knightsbridge office.
Lot 77. Chopard L.U.C. A Recently Serviced Lady's 18K Gold and Diamond Set Heart Form Wristwatch, Haute Joaillerie Collection, Ref: 13/6638-23, £ 5,000 - 7,000.
Lot 77. Chopard L.U.C. A Recently Serviced Lady's 18K Gold and Diamond Set Heart Form Wristwatch, Haute Joaillerie Collection, Ref: 13/6638-23, £ 5,000 - 7,000.
Name one of your triumphs.
I was seconded to the Bonhams Hong Kong office in 2019 cataloguing for the watch department. I handled large volumes of watches for a busy period of online auctions including the sale of The Centennial Collection, Asia's largest collection of multi-brand timepieces ever offered at auction. More than a third of the lots sold for above estimate and the sale attracted worldwide participation. Personally, it was a truly life-changing experience in terms of working and living abroad.
Lot 32. Tudor. A Stainless Steel Manual Wind Calendar Chronograph Bracelet Watch, Oysterdate Monte Carlo, Ref: 7149/0, Circa 1974, £ 8,000 - 12,000.
Lot 32. Tudor. A Stainless Steel Manual Wind Calendar Chronograph Bracelet Watch, Oysterdate Monte Carlo, Ref: 7149/0, Circa 1974, £ 8,000 - 12,000.
What has changed in your area of the business since you first started?
The main change is the growth of online bidding and virtual valuations, particularly in the last year. We've also seen a significant increase in the value of watches from some smaller brands such as F.P. Journe and also in some sports-influenced models from Rolex and Patek Philippe.
Lot 50. Patel Philippe. A Lady's 18K Gold Quartz Rectangular Wristwatch, Gondolo, Ref: 4824, £ 3,500 - 4,500.
Lot 50. Patel Philippe. A Lady's 18K Gold Quartz Rectangular Wristwatch, Gondolo, Ref: 4824, £ 3,500 - 4,500.
What is your strength as a specialist?
I am good at building client relationships and understanding things from the client's point of view. I was drawn to watches from my early career and my regional auction house background has given me sound general knowledge of the watch market at all levels.
Lot 68. Zenith. A Limited Edition 18K Rose Gold Automatic Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch, El Primero Grande Class, Ref: 18.0520.4002 Limited Edition No.185/250, Circa 2000, £ 2,500 - 3,500.
Lot 68. Zenith. A Limited Edition 18K Rose Gold Automatic Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch, El Primero Grande Class, Ref: 18.0520.4002 Limited Edition No.185/250, Circa 2000, £ 2,500 - 3,500.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I represented my university at tennis and still enjoy playing - when I can. I can speak French and a little bit of Welsh! I'm also a collector of watches, naturally, but also silver - and tea caddies!
Lot 103. Rolex. A Fine 18K White Gold Automatic Calendar Bracelet Watch, Submariner 'Smurf', Ref: 116619 LB, £ 15,000 - 20,000.
Lot 103. Rolex. A Fine 18K White Gold Automatic Calendar Bracelet Watch, Submariner 'Smurf', Ref: 116619 LB, £ 15,000 - 20,000.
Which watch has changed your life?
One of the rarest Patek Philippe watches ever produced - the yellow gold 1518 reference made in 1947 - is the watch I would love to own, in my dreams! It's a beautiful and elegant timepiece, from my favourite brand. Only 215 examples were ever made, one of which we sold in 2019, owned by the same family since it was purchased new in 1948.
Lot 79. Breguet. a Fine 18K Gold Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phase, Retrograde Date and Leap Year Indication, Classique- Perpetual Calendar, Retrograde Date, Ref: 3787, £ 5,000 - 7,000.
Lot 79. Breguet. a Fine 18K Gold Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phase, Retrograde Date and Leap Year Indication, Classique- Perpetual Calendar, Retrograde Date, Ref: 3787, £ 5,000 - 7,000.
What's exciting about your next sale?
Our next sale in Knightsbridge is a hybrid sale offering a wide range of watches - something for everyone, from pocket watches to ladies' timepieces. Highlights include an exciting 1970s Heuer Monaco, the first square automatic chronograph with a watch-resistant watch case and a Tudor Oyster Date Monte Carlo, which was the first chronograph produced by the brand. My personal favourites are, of course, the Patek Philippe 5296G Calatrava, the one I’m pictured with, and the Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar, Retrograde Date 3787 – I’m very much a dress watch man!
Lot 108. Patek Philippe. An 18K White Gold Automatic Calendar Wristwatch, Calatrava, Ref: 5296G/010, £ 12,000 - 18,000
Lot 108. Patek Philippe. An 18K White Gold Automatic Calendar Wristwatch, Calatrava, Ref: 5296G/010, £ 12,000 - 18,000
If you have any questions for Charles, please contact charles.dower@bonhams.com.
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