There was just one watch on the lips of every collector in 2014 - the Henry Graves Supercomplication, which set a new world record for any timepiece sold at auction when it crossed the block at an incredible $24m.
The announcement of the sale set off a trend throughout the year for unique or very rare complicated watches, with top brands such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin in high demand.
The jewellery market saw record results for rubies and sapphires while art deco era pieces from the likes of Cartier saw top bids in a number of sales.
Top watch and jewellery sale of 2014
 The most revered watch of all - Patek Philippe has only matched the number of complications by creating another version using machinery |
The Henry Graves Supercomplication, one of the most complicated watches ever made and the treasure of the watch collecting world, made an impressive $24m at Sotheby's in November, beating the watch world record it set at $11m in 1999.
Jewellery's highest selling lot of 2014 was the Hutton-Mdivani necklace, a stunning jade piece made for Chinese emperors and later owned by "Poor Little Rich Girl" Barbara Hutton. Selling in Hong Kong, it made an outstanding $27m.
2014's most important jewellery sales
In clocks, a couple of marine chronometers made waves at auction in 2014, with one used on Charles Darwin's HMS Beagle selling with a 49% increase on estimate at $127,500 before another, finer, example brought $158,242. There are just a scant few from the famous voyage available to collectors.
The Graff Vivid Yellow diamond, weighing in at over 100 carats, set the record for a yellow diamond at $16.3m in April, while a ruby bearing the famous Graff name made $8.6m at Sotheby's in November.
The Blue Belle of Asia, a huge 392.52-carat stone, made $17.2m in November, setting the record for any sapphire sold at auction. Sotheby's also saw a record for the most valuable fancy vivid pink diamond at auction, selling an 8.41 carat internally flawless example for $17.7m in Hong Kong in October.
A Patek Philippe Ref. 5027P-001, the third most complicated wristwatch produced by the illustrious Swiss company, made $867,000 to set a new record for the reference. A Patek Officier, the first chronograph from the company, realised $2.9m in June at Sotheby's, while a minute repeater made for patron Henry Graves Jr achieved $1.3m in May.
A wristwatch made by master watchmaker George Daniels saw a record sum for one of Daniels' renowned hand-crafted timepieces at $245,701 at Bonhams in June.
It was a breakout year for…
Ancient jewellery. The Ceres Collection of cameo and intaglio rings was offered by Bonhams London in September, seeing bids 200% over the sale estimate at $489,000. Meanwhile, Christie's held a sale dedicated to ancient jewellery, topped by an $80,000 Roman glass ring.
It was a year to forget for…
Christie's, which was subject to a burglary in December, with some pricey jewels stole from a safe in the "Fort Knox" style building in London. According to sources, the theft was valued at more than $1.7m, with still no sign of any culprits.
One you may have missed…
Agatha Christie's diamond brooch and ring crossed the block at Bonhams. Modestly priced, the author's fame propelled the sale to a 49,725% increase on estimate at almost £50,000 ($77,757).
