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Baron van Wassenaer's favourite - a Patek Philippe 5020R worth £30,000. The 18-karat rose gold timepiece, one of 37 Patek Philippes in his impressive set, has 12 diamonds placed in the case around the watchface, which actually devalue the item.

An incredible £2million collection of 2,200 watches amassed by one man over six decades is causing a stir in the world of horology as it goes up for auction.

Dutch nobleman Jan Willem Frederik Baron van Wassenaer had watches spanning more than a century and made by manufacturers for every letter in the alphabet.

The collection is believed to be the largest ever seen in Europe and is so big it has been split across multiple auctions throughout 2016.

Fifty important lots from his collection are to be sold by Bonhams in London on June 22 and are expected to fetch £358,000.