£ 56,312

A Heuer Carrera ref. 1158 chronograph in gold that was once owned by the late British motorcycle and car racer Mike Hailwood was sold at a Bonhams autumn auction in England for more than £ 55,000, four times more than its original estimate. The watch was given personally to the driver – who won multiple world championships on two wheels before switching to four – by Jack Heuer after Hailwood had helped rescue the Swiss racer

Clay Regazzoni from the burning wreckage of his crashed car at the South African Grand Prix, an act for which he was also awarded Britain’s George Medal for bravery. Only 150 examples were made of the reference, which was apparently one of Heuer’s favourites; this particular watch carries the inscription: “To Mike Hailwood for a successful 1973 Jack Heuer”.