1980 Garrard 9ct Gold Automatic Presentation Watch 33.5mm
Ref: 5627
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : 9ct Gold
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as “Watch Only” and therefore comes without its original Garrard box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 18mm Garrard-signed leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1980 and is sold in worn vintage condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see, with an engraving on the case back. The watch comes with our 12-Months Non-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10v1jazb6DOpRTx4JGZq1n3mD11JAZBOb?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 25:26 - https://youtu.be/PrW6AGaFoX0
The Watch
Here we have a 1980 Garrard 9ct Gold Automatic Presentation Watch with a 33.5mm 9ct Yellow Gold case that sits on your wrist with fine tapered hallmarked lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 39.5mm and a case thickness of 9.5mm ensures a comfortable fit. On the right side is a push/pull crown. A smooth bevel-edged bezel holds a domed crystal above a silver dial, applied gold baton and 12 Arabic numeral indexes mark the hours, at 3 o’clock a framed date window, elegant slender gold baton hands are complemented by a tapered sweeping second hand. On the reverse a 9ct Yellow gold solid case back engraved with a presentation engraving “Rolls Royce Limited Bristol T.H. BENCE 1981”, this factory made the engines used in the Concorde. Inside an automatic Garrard Cal. T16, 21 jewels, based on the ETA 2824. The watch comes paired with its original 18mm Garrard-signed leather strap.
Personal Note
This wonderful 1980 9ct Gold Garrard was presented to a "T.H.Bence" in 1981 by Rolls-Royce Limited Bristol as engraved on the case back, I do love a watch with an engraving as it allows us to understand part of the story of a watch! This example is in essentially perfect condition for its age, with the original strap still on the watch, I suspect this was worn a handful of times at most and then resigned to a draw to not be worn again, maybe due to how precious it may have been to the owner or potentially the exact opposite, he may have had a far more "superior" watch that he enjoyed... We will never know and that is part of the beauty of vintage watches.
The Brand
George Wickes founded Garrard in London in 1735. Its Headquarters can be found on Albemarle Street in Mayfair. They created fine jewellery, silver and watches. Queen Victoria made them the first Crown Jeweller of the UK. They were responsible for the upkeep of the British Crown Jewels from 1843 to 2007. They are world-famous for creating the America's Cup trophy in 1848. The Royal family has many crowns and tiaras made by Garrard. In 2006 they were acquired by the US equity firm Yucaipa Companies. Today they have a presence all over the world including Harrods in London, and bricks and mortar Jewellers in Geneva, Moscow and Hong Kong. Garrard receives commissions from many companies and organisations to provide timepieces with personalised inscriptions on them.