TIME IS MONEY
Winston Churchill’s prized gold pocket sells for three times its estimated price at auction
A British private collector saw off fierce competition from US bidders
A GOLD pocket watch that belonged to Sir Winston Churchill has been sold for £95,000 — three times its estimate.
The 18-carat timepiece was a gift from former prime minister Herbert Asquith in 1905.
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He wanted to thank Churchill for defecting from the Conservatives to the Liberals in 1904 and backing social reforms.
He had it engraved with Churchill’s early coat of arms and the message: “To Winston with gratitude H.H Asquith Xmas 1905”.
It was bought secondhand in 1983 for £3,000 as a 65th birthday gift for the Earl of Enniskillen but had been stored in a drawer since 1997.
A British private collector saw off fierce competition from US bidders.
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Dawsons Auctioneers of Maidenhead, Berks said: “It’s a thrilling outcome for an exceptional item.”
“There are certain moments in life when you feel truly connected to history and having the opportunity to delve deep into Sir Winston Churchill’s past, both politically and personally, has been a privilege.
“To hold a minute repeating pocket watch with the armorial bearings of Sir Winston Churchill, believed to be a gift from another former Prime Minister, H.H Asquith in 1905, is nothing short of surreal.
“It was his early coat of arms without the added titles from his wartime accolades.
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“Sadly, we have not been able to trace if Churchill kept hold of it for the rest of his life, or if he bestowed it to someone during his lifetime.
“The pocketwatch had been in the Enniskillen family for over 40 years but it was sitting in a drawer for decades and they felt it was the right time to find a new home for it.”
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