Led out by the “Paul Newman” Rolex Daytona that belonged to Paul Newman himself, 2017 has seen a succession of spectacular results for watches at auction.

From a surprise result in a Suffolk village sale to a George Daniels pocket watch and Jackie Onassis Kennedy’s Cartier Tank, via customarily huge sales for Rolex and Patek Philippe, Timothy Barber casts an eye over the biggest lots of the year.