ROY KING: A LADY'S 18K GOLD AND TIGER'S EYE WATCH PENDANT NECKLACE, 1972

Of manual wind movement, the oval tiger's eye dial with sword hands, polished gold case with snap on back, to a fitted...

ROY KING: A LADY'S 18K GOLD AND TIGER'S EYE WATCH PENDANT NECKLACE, 1972

Of manual wind movement, the oval tiger's eye dial with sword hands, polished gold case with snap on back, to a fitted fancy-link chain necklace highlighted with brilliant-cut diamond tassel and connector, mounted in 18K gold, with maker's mark 'RCK' for Roy Cecil King, London hallmarks for 1972 inside case, French import marks, movement unsigned, chain necklace with no clasp, length from top to bottom 42.5cm

A Private Collection (lot 79 to 106) from a Distinguished Private Collector

Roy Cecil King (1913–2000) was a pioneering British jeweller and watch designer known for his technical precision and modern aesthetic. He began his career in 1927 as an apprentice at M. J. Greengross in Hatton Garden, later studying diamond mounting at the Sir John Cass Technical Institute. During the Second World War, he served as a planning engineer at de Havilland Aircraft, where he mastered machine-tool techniques that would shape his later designs.

After the war, King established his own workshop in Watford, Hertfordshire, producing everything from tie pins to tiaras. By the early 1960s, when restrictions on the import of Swiss movements were lifted, he turned his focus increasingly to watchmaking, designing his own cases and bracelets while securing an exclusive partnership with the Swiss movement manufacturer Bueche-Girod.

In 1965, King built a purpose-made factory near Watford employing sixty-five people and producing around twenty-five thousand gold and silver pieces annually. His innovative “bark-finish” texture on rings, bracelets, and watches became a hallmark of his style and gained widespread attention in 1966 when Pattie Boyd wore one of his bark-finish wedding rings to marry George Harrison.

King’s ambition extended to the international stage: in 1973 he acquired the Swiss watch company La Montre Royale de Genève, creating some of the most luxurious watches of the decade, especially admired in the Middle East. Among these was an exceptional example featuring a large black opal dial and heavy bark-finish bracelet crafted by JPE, a renowned maker of fine bracelets for houses such as Patek Philippe. Each piece exemplified King’s blend of artistry and engineering precision.

Recognised for his achievements, King received a National Export Council Award in 1971, became a Freeman of the City of London, and in 1984 was honoured with a solo exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall. His work was later included in Treasures of the Twentieth Century at the same venue in 1999.

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