The estate of one of Australia’s most influential broadcasters, John Laws, will be auctioned. It includes more than 1000 rare and exceptional items, among them the largest single-owner collection of prestige watches ever to come to market in the country.
Gold Patek Phillipe and Rolex watches, paintings by Paul César Helleu and Brett Whitely, Rodin sculptures, rare first-edition books, and fur-lined Gucci slippers are among some of the lots to be auctioned by Bonhams Australia.
Laws and his wife Caroline travelled the globe for five decades, collecting exceptional examples of Impressionist paintings and sculpture, antiques and antiquities, and luxury collectibles.
Known nationally as “the man with the golden microphone,” Laws shaped public discourse for more than 70 years until his death in November 2025, aged 90.
The Bonhams Australia auction will take the form of two live evening sales on June 2 and 3, 2026. Three online sales will also be held and dedicated to fine interiors, the library and luxury collectibles.
The June 2 sale includes fine art, classic furniture, antiquities and French mantel clocks from Laws’ properties worldwide.
The June 3 sale will feature Laws’ gold watches including his Patek Phillippe Nautilus “Jumbo” circa 1985 estimated at $150,000-$250,000.
It is joined by what is widely regarded as a unicorn in vintage horology – his Rolex triple calendar bracelet with moon phases circa 1953 estimated at $80,000-$1,200,000.
He had a rare Rolex GMT-Master II – a yellow gold dual time bracelet watch with date and ceramic bezel circa 2008 and estimated at $40,000-$60,000.
There is also a limited-edition Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI 1969 which was made to commemorate the Apollo XI moon landing in 1970, estimated at $40,000-$60,000. There is also a limited-edition Cartier Collection Privee Cartier Paris Basculante reversible wristwatch circa 1999, estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Other highlights include Paul César Helleu’s Mme Helleu Sur le Yacht L’Étoile, c.1900, estimated at AU$150,000 – 250,000.
There are also four editioned bronze sculptures by Auguste Rodin, including Nu féminin couché dit aussi ‘Étude pour Ariane’, conceived between 1887 and 1890, cast by the E. Godard foundry in 1986 in an edition of 12 numbered 1/8-8/8 and I/IV-IV/IV, estimated at $40,000 – 60,000.
French 18th century furniture is well represented, including a fine Louis XV floral marquetry secretaire a abattant, circa 1760s, estimated at $4,000–6,000.
Along with hand-blown Venetian glassware and Chinese export porcelain, there is a pair of cast stone Medici Lions estimated at $3,000-$5,000.
The Library sale offers an extensive selection of rare, first-edition books and leather-bound periodicals.
These include the first edition of Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s Monograph of the Paradisidae (Birds of Paradise) and Ptilonorhynchidae (Bower-birds) with hand-coloured plates, estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
The auction series will conclude with an “impeccable” selection of travel goods and accessories from Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, and Giogio Armani. It includes Laws’ Gucci Princetown slippers estimated at $500-$800.
More details are available here.
