Bushman pocket watch

A RARE pocket watch believed to be one of only a handful still in existence has been sold for £8,600 at an auction in Stansted Mountfitchet.

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The 300-year-old Bushman pocket watch, which was expected to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000, was bought by a telephone bidder at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers.

It dates back to the start of the 18th century and is the twin of one held at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s timekeeping collection in London.

The silver timepiece features an unusual “shutter display” design with no hands or numbers on the face.

The auctioneers said there may be as few as six such watches in the world and only one other has been recorded as sold at auction.

On that occasion, 10 years ago in New York, the item was sold for about $6,000.