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Irish Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
How much did a Bono self-portrait sell for? – and the growing trend of investing in wristwatches
One would almost think, that with the ubiquity of smart phones and other devices with prominent digital displays of time, wristwatches would have become a thing of the past. Not so, it seems. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in demand for high-end watches - almost ironically give that with lockdowns, there was a sense of time standing still. Noting that many people had more disposable income during Covid, 'some people saw it as a good time to make an investment in a watch,' says Sophie Duff, jewellery valuer with Adams Blackrock, the Irish auction house that recently relocated to 17 Kildare Street, Dublin. The auctioneer's current jewellery timed online auction – which ends on Thursday, July 17th from 7pm - has a few stand-out watches among the lots. READ MORE Perhaps the most prominent of the watches in Adams Blackrock's forthcoming auction is the Patek Philippe 'Golden Ellipse' 18 carat yellow gold man's watch, dated 1988 (€7,500-€8,500). 'This model allows Patek to flaunt its expertise in the field of watchmaking, particularly in the beautifully textured Milanese bracelet strap,' explains Duff. Patek Philippe is one of the world's most luxurious watchmakers. The Geneva-based company has an on-site museum which chronicles the 500-year history of watchmaking. It includes exhibits of 2,500 watches including a range of its own pocket and wristwatches since it began making watches in 1839. Incidentally, the Irish Museum of Time in Waterford city also has displays of Irish-made wristwatches and the best collection in the world of Irish-made pocket watches, from the 18th to 20th century. Another interesting watch at the Adams Blackrock auction is the Chopard 'Happy Sport' stainless steel diamond-set lady's wristwatch (€1,800-€2,000). Adams Blackrock's forthcoming auction includes the Patek Philippe 'Golden Ellipse' 18ct yellow gold man's watch dated 1988 (€7,500-€8,500) The Chopard 'Happy Sport' stainless steel diamond-set lady's wristwatch (€1,800-€2,000), at Adams Blackrock auction 'Chopard are known for their iconic 'Happy Diamonds', a design feature where loose diamonds appear to float within the piece,' explains Duff. Adams Blackrock, which was recently acquired by Belfast-based Ross's auctioneers and valuers, offers dual-currency bidding, with buyers able to submit bids in euro or sterling. Items are also on view in both auction houses in advance of their monthly auctions. [ Belfast-based watchmaker Nomadic moves with the times to reinvent retail experience Opens in new window ] Ken Israel, head of watches at Adam's Fine Art Auctioneers, 26 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, says there is a strong and consistent demand for vintage Patek Philippe watches. 'In our latest sale [May, 2025], a beautiful Patek Philippe model no 3940 J achieved €40,000, demonstrating the ongoing appetite for refined dress watches,' says Israel. He adds that Cartier watches are also in demand, particularly those designed from the 1930s to the 1970s. 'These early watches represent a golden age of design and craftsmanship, that is now being rediscovered and reappreciated,' says Israel. More specifically, he suggests that pre-1973 models, especially those cased by Edmond Jaeger and featuring Jaeger or early European Watch and Clock (EWC) company movements, are particularly sought after by collectors. According to Israel, collectors are more educated now and digging deeper in the history of each brand. 'This is reviving interest in forgotten references that combine mechanical excellence with striking aesthetics,' he explains. There will be watches in Adam's next jewellery auction on September 9th. Duff from Adams Blackrock agrees that customers – male, female, old and young - know what model they are looking for. 'We get a lot of interest in Cartier watches too – particularly models from the 1990s and 2000s that are no longer in production,' she explains. Generally speaking, Duff says, customers are more interested in bracelet-style watches, rather than those with a leather strap. Omega watches are also in demand. And although neither Ross nor Adams Blackrock have sold an Omega Seamaster – famously worn by the James Bond characters since 1995 - she says customers do make reference to it quite a bit. Fans of 007 will no doubt be familiar with the product-placement of these luxurious watches, which superseded other high-end brands Rolex and Seiko, worn by previous James Bond characters in the decades before 1995. Pierce Brosnan at the launch of the Omega Seamaster Professional, the James Bond watch. Photograph: Rune Hellestad/Corbis/Getty O'Reilly's Fine Art Auctioneers on Francis Street, Dublin, notes two other strands of interest in watches outside the vintage and designer watch market. These are outdoor watches, such as the Tag Heuer models, which range from classic watches and racing-themed chronographs [watches which incorporate a stop watch function] to water-resistant sports models from brand such as Raymond Weil and Longines. O'Reilly's Fine Art Auctioneer's next auction on July 23rd features an early 20th century 18ct gold pocket watch (€1,200-€1,800) A lady's Rolex Cellini cream face wristwatch with Roman numerals and an 18ct gold case, clasp and buckle on a black leather strap (€3,000-€4,000), at O'Reilly's auction on July 23rd 'Pocket watches – often offered with their accompanying gold chain made from 9 or 18 carat gold – are de rigueur for gentlemen who wear three-piece suits,' says Natasha Bernon from O'Reillys. Its next auction, on July 23rd, features an early 20th century 18 carat (ct) gold pocket watch (€1,200-€1,800). The auction also includes a lady's Rolex Cellini cream face wristwatch with Roman numerals. It has an 18ct gold case, clasp and buckle on its black leather strap. (€3,000-€4,000). 'With no VAT on pre-owned items, you can find iconic brands at a fraction of the retail cost and all our watches are carefully inspected by our specialists to ensure authenticity and quality,' says Bernon. ; ; ; ; What did it sell for? September Morning, Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh by Colin Middleton September Morning, Castle Archdale, Colin Middleton Estimate €1,200-€1,500 Hammer price €1,700 Auction house Whyte's St Peter's Church in Drogheda, watercolour and pencil drawing by Thomas Ryan St Peter's Church in Drogheda, Thomas Ryan Estimate €300-€500 Hammer price €440 Auction house Whyte's The Self-Portrait by Paul Hewson (Bono) entitled, Baked Beans Boy (€300-€500) at Whyte's Summer Online Auction Baked Beans Boy, Bono Estimate €300-€500 Hammer price €1,050 Auction house Whyte's Grevy's Zebra, Andy Warhol Grevy's Zebra by Andy Warhol Estimate £70,000-£100,000 Hammer price £115,000 (€135,000) Auction house Bonhams
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Anti-immigrant protesters block entrance to Leinster House
Additional gardaí had to be called to Kildare Street on Tuesday afternoon after anti-migrant protesters blocked the main entrance to Leinster House. The protesters, may of them carrying tricolour flags, had earlier been part of a rally and march on O'Connell Street under the banner Dissolve the Dáil. Some 150 protesters then marched to Kildare Street where they congregated around the main gates of the complex and would not move back when requested to by gardaí and Leinster House security staff. Extra gardaí were drafted into the area and Kildare Street and surrounding streets were blocked off to traffic. The crowd chanted anti-migrant and anti-politics statements, with some shouting 'traitors' and 'collaborators' to staff and visitors entering and leaving the complex. READ MORE The rally was organised by Kerry businesswoman Michelle Keane, who was an unsuccessful candidate in the general election in November. She has taken a High Court action against the State claiming that votes were 'torn' out of ballot boxes in Kerry. Those who attended the rally began congregating outside the Dáil at 2pm and were still blocking the entrance two hours later. Gardaí at the scene have not yet attempted to move protesters away from the gate. The main concern from a security perspective is that a student protest is scheduled to take place on Kildare Street at 6pm, which could lead to confrontation if the protesters there at the moment have not dispersed by then.
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Cara Darmody protest to bring political pressure
Good morning, The gates of Leinster House see protests most weeks, but expect a particular political focus on one being held from today. Teenage disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody is to begin a 50-hour picket on Kildare Street. And expect plenty of pressure to follow. Darmody's two younger brothers are autistic, and along with her family, she has been petitioning government and opposition parties over a backlog in assessments of need - a legal process designed to identify a child's health needs. READ MORE Under legislation introduced in 2005, children have a legal right to an assessment of need within six months. Only a tiny percentage have this deadline met - and as political editor Pat Leahy writes this morning , the number of children awaiting assessment for six months or longer will grow from 15,000 now to 25,000 by the end of the year, according to HSE estimates. The Coalition - both as outgoing government and incoming administration - put a big emphasis on disability, and there is likely to be a public examination of its record and intent lasting several days. From a political point of view, the backlog is a significant vulnerability. It sits alongside ongoing or brewing controversies involving orthopedics and hip dysplasia, where the individuals impacted are vulnerable and their stories emotionally raw. Coalition leaders have not been slow to engage with Cara Darmody and her family - most recently Minister for Children Norma Foley . Nor have they been shy about admitting that the current situation is not acceptable. However, a listening ear doesn't mitigate the issue of political responsibility, which is something the Opposition will seek to force home in a combined motion to be taken this evening - another road test of the unity of the Opposition parties as they seek to impose maximum pressure on the Government. A new chapter for EU-UK relations? Late night negotiations, a press conference in a gilded setting, followed by lunch on a retired warship. It could only be another round of post-Brexit negotiations, as the UK and EU struck a 'reset' deal on their post-Brexit trading relationship. As with almost all matters Brexit, the details are quite involved, and have already been spat out by some of the pillars of Brexiteer politics. They include Nigel Farage , the UK's fishing fleet and Boris Johnson , who pronounced that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was, er, nothing more than the 'manacled gimp of Brussels'. The response in Ireland has been warmer. Tánaiste Simon Harris's trade forum gave it a 'strong welcome', according to an account of proceedings on Monday, with participants highlighting positive impacts in relation to energy and an agreement on Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) trade. The question for Downing Street is whether its claimed economic benefits will be tangible to voters - or whether the potency of the charge that it has capitulated to Brussels will further bolster Farage's buoyant Reform party. Freya McClements on the NI reaction. Mark Paul on smiles and bonhomie as the deal was announced. Eoin Burke-Kennedy on what is in the reset deal. Best reads Keith Duggan charts the gripping arc of Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis disclosure , landing amid the rancorous fallout of a new book detailing how his cognitive decline was concealed. Young people love radio. Or do they? Hugh Linehan kicks the tyres of the JNLRs. Martin Wall on the funding crisis in the disabilities sector. Fintan O'Toole on Trump and the US university sector. Playbook The weekly Cabinet meeting will be held around 9am. Here's what we know is on the agenda. Meanwhile, the weekly round of press conferences from the Opposition will get underway on the Leinster House plinth from mid-morning. As mentioned above, the leaders of the Opposition parties will meet with Cara Darmody outside Leinster House at 11.30am. The political/courts crossover continues with Gerry Adams' High Court action alleging defamation against the BBC rolling into another day. Action in the Dáil gets underway from 2pm, with Sinn Féin , Labour , the Social Democrats and the Independent and Parties technical group putting questions to Micheál Martin . Then it's the Order of Business and Questions on Policy or Legislation. Shortly after 3pm, the legislation reducing the voting age to 16 for all elections will be introduced by Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats, before Taoiseach's questions. Just before 4pm, Government Business will be given over to statements on Assessment of Need, before a motion on the topic from the combined opposition parties, put down in Sinn Féin time. In the evening, there are oral questions for Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon followed by topical issues after 11pm. Here's the full schedule. In the Seanad , commencement matters are at 2.30om, with statements on driving test waiting times at 4.45pm, before the upper house debates legislation on catfishing brought forward by Fianna Fáil. The full Seanad schedule is here. In the Committee rooms, the last procedural bits and bobs are still being tied down with elections of vice chairs to many committees, introductory remarks and statements from incoming chairs, as well as private meetings as they plan their work schedule. The infrastructure committee is looking at the steps involved in commissioning large-scale capital projects at 3.30pm Here's the full schedule. Sign up for Politics push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for the Inside Politics newsletter to get our politics team's take direct to your inbox.
