1930s Patek Philippe watch found in Cornwall sells for £59,000

Image Credit: Hansons Auctioneers A vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch discovered during a house clearance in Camborne, Cornwall, has sold for £59,000 after attracting fierce competition from international collectors. The 1930s timepiece had remained among jewellery in a family home for decades before its value was properly assessed. Initially estimated at between £5,000 and £10,000 by Hansons Auctioneers, the watch achieved almost 12 times its lower estimate at auction on 25 August 2026. According to the BBC and Hansons Auctioneers, the remarkable sale turned a long-kept family possession into an unexpected financial windfall.How did the 1930s Patek Philippe watch reach £59,000 at auctionThe watch came to light during a house clearance following the death of its owner, who had kept it among other jewellery in her home in Camborne. Its eventual sale attracted attention because the timepiece had remained within the same Cornish family for generations, despite its potential value being largely unknown.According to Hansons Auctioneers, the watch was identified as a Patek Philippe & Co Calatrava Reference 448, a model dating from around the 1930s. It was entered into the auction hou...