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David Linley, Earl of Snowdon on the changing world of auctions – the late Princess Margaret’s son and Christie’s chairman has seen Covid-19 shift sales online

David Linley is the son of the late Princess Margaret, and is honorary chairman at Christie’s for Middle East, Europe and Africa. Photo: Handout
David Linley is the son of the late Princess Margaret, and is honorary chairman at Christie’s for Middle East, Europe and Africa. Photo: Handout
XXIV 2021

  • The pandemic led to the first cryptocurrency transactions and NFT sales, including Beeple’s digital opus Everydays: The First 5000 Days, sold for a record US$69 million
  • Honorary Christie’s chairman for Europe, Middle East and Russia, he has his own watch collection: Patek Philippe’s Nautilus and Calatrava, two Jaeger-LeCoultres and an F.P. Journe

The auction world is a rarefied and glamorous one, handling fine art, jewellery and watches, and connecting with a clientele who expects the very finest service. This service might include David Linley, the Earl of Snowdon, son of the late Princess Margaret and honorary chairman of EMERI (Europe, Middle East, Russia, India) for Christie’s, jumping on a plane at a moment’s notice to visit a collector who is considering a bid for a painting or piece of fine art. When hammer prices can be millions of dollars, clients like to feel special.

The pandemic, however, has halted this personalised approach, much to Linley’s frustration. He acknowledges he’s always on the go; “I don’t sleep much, and do emails in the middle of the night, wake up and do some more, and so timing has been changed by the immediacy of communication,” he says, admitting, “I have no personal time without feeling there is something [his mobile] whirring in my pocket.”

Covid-19 restrictions have speeded up the auction world’s move online, and brought the first cryptocurrency transactions and NFTs – Christie’s sold Beeple’s digital opus Everydays: The First 5000 Days for a record-breaking US$69 million on March 11. “The swiftness [with which] technology has responded to our needs during the pandemic has been extraordinary,” says the son of the late Princess Margaret. “I think we have adapted very quickly as humans to the mechanisation of how we merchandise, advertise and sell.”
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The then-Viscount David Linley at his furniture shop in Chelsea, London, in 2003. Photo: Handout
The then-Viscount David Linley at his furniture shop in Chelsea, London, in 2003. Photo: Handout

Thirty five years ago, Linley launched his bespoke cabinet-making business, renowned for its beautiful wood marquetry, and was the first to adopt email and a website. He recalls being asked how it’s possible to describe luxury online and give a VIP service: “And I said it is about conveying your thoughts, your enthusiasm, your spirit and whatever you want the brand to be.”

That belief holds true today in the way he galvanises the Christie’s team to be creative and engage in this new world. His role with the famous auctioneers has given him access to some of the finest watches and advice from specialists. Over 15 years, he has acquired Patek Philippe’s Nautilus and Calatrava, a couple of Jaeger-LeCoultres, three watches customised by his friend George Bamford, and an F.P. Journe at a time when few had heard of the niche watchmaker.

His love of timepieces is rooted in “what are you wearing on your wrist” competitions he had with his father Lord Snowdon, who he says wore some amazing watches that he sometimes took apart: “When I was 21, he gave me an Omega Speedmaster and when my son turned 21 last year, I gave it to him.” He gave his daughter a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso for her birthday and spotted it wasn’t telling the time one day. “She said, ‘I’ve been shaking it all morning Papa.’ And I said it’s not an automatic, wind it up. ‘How do I wind it up?’ she replied!”

David Linley’s preferred watches

“My father owned this Pulsar, which was the first digital watch. We couldn’t believe it when it first came out, you had to press it to make the numbers appear and anyone with an old watch would query, ‘Why would you need to do that?’

The Pulsar was the first digital watch. Photo: Handout
The Pulsar was the first digital watch. Photo: Handout

“The glass on my father’s Omega Speedmaster is completely destroyed because he was always making and mending things, and it got scratched. Omega serviced it and offered to replace the screen and I said, ‘No you don’t!’ because it reminds me of the time I spent with him.”

Omega Speedmaster. Photo: Handout
Omega Speedmaster. Photo: Handout
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