525 lots

LOT 1

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Mattheus Hallaÿcher, Augusta (Augsburg), circa 1675.Fine and extremely rare silver spherical watch, the movement with pendulum regulator, fitted in a gimballed suspension.

C. Two piece spherical fully engraved with concentrical rows of formal decoration. Steel gimbal suspension. D. Gilt brass with Roman numerals, the centre engraved with scrolling foliage. Blued steel elaborated single hand. M. Gilt brass full plate, the ballasted back plate engraved with foliage decoration, fusee with chain, verge escapement, short brass bob pendulum.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 53 mm.

Grading System:

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 91,500

LOT 2

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Henry Sully à Versailles Invenit 1721 et Fecit 1724.An important and only recently discovered eight day Marine Timekeeper of the historically famous small group made by Sully and termed by him Pendules à Levier. This example, for which evidence exists that it is almost certainly Sully's third such timepiece, is one of only two known to have survived. It is a remarkable work offering hour and quarter striking as well as calendar in addition to most of the extraordinary features described and illustrated in Sully's 295 pages work dedicated to LouisXV and entitled Description abrégée d'une Horloge d'une nouvelle invention pour la juste mesure du Temps en Mer? Par Henry Sully, Horloger de S.A.S Monseigneur Le Duc d'Orléans, Paris 1726.Pendule à Levier, described by Sully as "C", this clock, together with Sully's "A" and "B", Harrison's Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Pierre Le Roy's "A" and "S" and Ferdinand Berthoud's Horloges Marines No. 6 and No. 8, can be considered as one of the 12 most important early timekeepers related to the discovery of the Longitude at sea.

C. As found it stood upon a rectangular ebonised wooden display base of much more recent origin. The clock has now been rehoused in a wooden case suspended in brass gimbals in conformity with the system shown in plate 3 of Description abrégée d'une Horloge d'une nouvelle invention pour la juste mesure du Temps en Mer?, and as intended by Sully to be suspended from the deck-head of a ship. D. Circular dial with matted centre, engraved and silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals and outer Arabicminute ring, subsidiary seconds ring below Chapter XII and calendar aperture above Chapter VI. The blued steel hour hand began life in the characteristic French fleur-de-lys form but lost its "ears" in the post-Revolutionary period when any object, decoration, or inscription conceivably reminiscent of the French monarchy had to be destroyed or defaced under penalty of confiscation. M. The two train movement is very much in the English style, having sturdy brass plates separated by five latched pllars. The dial feet are attached to the movement by the same method. All latches are numbered, as are the pillar-ends. The movement plates have high-arched tops. The back arch encompasses the top half of a large circular "window" made to show off the large vertical balance and the two anti-friction wheels supporting the back balance pivot. The escapement is Sully's famous, two-plane, dead-beat, frictional-rest type which bears his name. The pallet-discs are made so as to be reversible on theirrbor, in order to offer a choice of two differing inclinations of impulse planes. The escape wheel teeth have been repeatedly recut and now are little more than pins. The plain brass balance, which has had a ring added to it to make it heavier, has no spring. It beats half seconds. Its arbor extends backwards to a cock behind the movement plate and carries a crank and a connecting-rod reaching downwards to support a horizontal lever (the levier) pivoted at one end and weighted at the other. Whenthe balance is in motion, then the lever is alternately raised and lowered by the connecting rod. The going train employs a fusee (without maintaining power) driven from a large barrel and powerful spring through a strong gut line. The striking train is driven by a going-barrel, and employs a two sided rack in the manner of Thiout. The hours are struck in passing from a single train and hammer upon a deep-toned bell and one-blow quarters upon another of higher pitch. There is a Strike/Silent levr in the dial high up on the right beyond the minute ring. The front pivot of the third pinion of the going-train, carries the seconds hand.Signed on the back plate: Henry Sully à Versailles Invenit 1721 et Fecit 1724.Scratched on the front plate under the dial : Enderlin de Bâle - fait en 1724 Pour Monsieur de Sully.Dim. 33 x 32 x 19,5 cm.

Grading System:

CHF 0 - 0

LOT 4

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

SULLY (Henry). Règle Artificielle du Temps. Nouvelle Edition corrigée & augmentée de quelques Mémoires sur l'Horlogerie, par M. Julien Le Roy.

Paris, 1737.8vo, 433 pp + index and 5 folding plates.Original full calf with ribbed back and tooled decoration.

CHF 500 - 600

Sold: CHF 978

LOT 5

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

French, circa 1770.Important and extremely rare watch with Sully frictional rest escapement, constructed on the principle of the watch elaborated in 1715 by Julien Le Roy and Henry Sully, constructed by Julien Le Roy and presented by Sully to the Académie des Sciences on June 10, 1716.

C. Silver gilt Louis XV with glazed back. D. Slightly later white enamel with radial Arabic numerals and outer minute ring. Later blued steel hands. M. Hinged gilt brass, fixed barrel with revolving arbor, three wheel train used in conjunction with a form of Sully's frictional rest escapement with double pallet and single escape wheel, so arranged that the balance staff is kept horizontal in both "hanging" and "lying" positions. Plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring.Diam. 47 mm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 13,000 - 15,000

Sold: CHF 11,500

LOT 6

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Richard Gregg, London No. 591, attributable to Thomas Mudge, with London hallmarks for 1758.Very fine and important 22K gold pair cased double face watch with equation of time and annual calendar.

C. Double body outer and inner, both polished and marked "H.T.", the inner case with eccentric glazed calendar aperture. D. White enamel on the front with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Small subsidiary revolving silver dial for the months partly covered by the gold small chapter ring of the dates which are pointed from the small revolving enamel centre. Gilt brass dust cap with calendar apertures. Blued steel "poker and beetle" hands, gold equation "poker" hand. M. Gilt brass fullplate with turned pillars, fusee with chain and maintaining power, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, polished steel plain three-arm balance with flat balance spring, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with foliage and with diamond end-stone. Equation of time with differential and cam.Signed on the dust cap and back plate.Diam. 52 mm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

LOT 7

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Josiah Emery, No. 661, produced in 1774.The first lever watch made by Josiah Emery, the second Lever Watch ever made after that executed by Thomas Mudge in 1769 for King George III.Gilt brass, pair cased, centre-seconds stop watch.

C. Gilt brass pair case, custom made circa 1795, both polished. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute and seconds ring, custom made from the same period than the case. Gilt brass hands.M. Hinged gilt brass full plate, regular English calibre, fusee with chain and Harrison's maintaining power, the mainspring set-up is of the type typically associated with Emery. Unusual arrangement of the centre-seconds driving wheel so that the centre seconds hands can be stopped independently from the movement. The train count determine a balance frequency of 36,000 beats per hour, extremely high frequency, probably unique for an 18th century watch. Lever escapement of experimental type withighly polished steel wheel of "flat wheel cylinder" type, the lever with simple pointed pallets, one jewelled, the other steel. The banking is achieved with extensions to the pallet arms which stop on top of the escape wheel teeth. There is apparently no draw on the pallets. The fork and roller action simply consists of two independently friction-mounted "D" section pieces on the staff, rotatable so that the shake in the fork can be adjusted closely. Plain gilt brass three-arm balance with two sall steel poising screws eccentrically mounted, and inset in the rim. Blued steel balance spring with a long straight tail, controlled by curb pins to effect the corrections for temperature changes by means of "Chelsea Bun" type compensation, the curb is mounted on a sliding steel frame, which can be racked sideways to adjust the watch for meantime, by moving the curb pins along the tail of the balance spring.Diam. 54 mm.

Grading System:

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

LOT 8

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

William Smith, London, H. Morton Invented,circa 1770.A rare, possibly unique centre seconds timekeeper of historical interest for use on board ship, mounted in a solid block of teak inset with a plaque inscribed "Sir John Franklin - Ships Clock from the North West Passage 1845-1847 - Mounted in a log of teak from H.M.S. Hindustan, a man-of-war, built entirely of wood, 1854".

C. Brass cylinder bowl within a rectangular solid piece of teak, hinged brass bezel. D. Brass with sunk centre, Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Pierced Louis XV blued steel hands. M. Brass circular with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain and unusual maintaining power, Harrison type dead-beat verge escapement, brass three-arm balance, flat blued steel balance spring. Unusual brass "petal" pierced balance-bridge in the manner of Harrisons H5 and the Mudge copies.Signed on the dial.Dial diam. 25 cm.Dim. 40 x 30 x 12 cm.

Grading System: AA

CHF 24,000 - 28,000

LOT 9

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

J. H. de Magellan, London, circa 1780. A very rare small astronomical regulator, perhaps for a portable observatory.

D. Silvered brass regulator style with minutes at 12 o'clock and volvelle for the hours at 6 o'clock. Arabic seconds and minutes, Roman hour numerals. Blued steel hands. Signed 'J.H. de Magellan fieri Curavit Londini' (J.H. de Magellan caused it to be made in London). M. Brass with slightly tapering arched top plates, plain turned pillars, dead-beat anchor escapement with steel anchor, grooved barrel for the gut line, lateral pendulum adjustment, wood rod pendulum with brass bob, cylindrical bras cased weights.Signed on the dial.Dial diam. 20 cm.

Grading System: AA

CHF 20,000 - 24,000

Sold: CHF 23,000

LOT 10

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Ferdinand Berthoud à Paris, circa 1770.Very fine and rare, month-going rose wood marquetry, weight-driven longcase regulator with equation of time.

C. Rectangular with glazed door, gilt bronze beaded decoration, applied five-pointed star on the base, with flambeau urn finial. D. White enamel by Coteau with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, gold paillonne five minute divisions, aperture below "XII" for the annual calendar. Pierced and engraved gilt brass hands with blued-steel centre-seconds and mean time minute hand. M. Rectangular brass with cylindrical pillars, weight-driven with Huygens endless rope winding, Graham dead-beat escaement, seconds beating pendulum with knife-edge suspension and Ferdinand Berthoud's special compensation with offset bob. The annual calendar ring with the equation cam, behind the dial.Signed on the dial and the back plate.Dim. 230 x 50 x 28 cm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 220,000 - 250,000

LOT 11

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

BERTHOUD (Ferdinand).Traité des Horloges Marines.

Paris, 1773.In 4°, 590 pp., 27 folding plates.Original full calf with ribbed back and tooled decoration.

CHF 1,200 - 1,400

Sold: CHF 2,760

LOT 12

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

EVEUX DE FLEURIEU (Charles Pierre Claret d'). Voyage fait par ordre du Roi en 1768 et 1769 à différentes parties du monde, pour éprouver en mer les Horloges Marines inventées par M. Ferdinand Berthoud.

Paris, 1773.In 4°, 2 volumes:Vol. I, 803 pp. + 79 pp. of introduction and Procès Verbal, and 5 folding maps.Vol. II, 622 pp. + 40 pp., 1 folding plate and 3 folding tables.Original full calf, the ribbed back with tooled decoration.

CHF 1,200 - 1,400

Sold: CHF 1,840

LOT 13

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Attributable to Bouchet, circa 1780.Very fine and rare gilt brass eight day going skeleton centre seconds mantel regulator with equation of time, annual calendar, one 65 seconds remontoire and fixed gridiron compensation.

C. Rectangular sea-green marble base standing on gilt bronze engine-turned bun-feet. Gilt brass frame designed as an upside-down "Y" levelled by means of four screws with knurled buttons. D. White enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals. Gilt brass "arrow" hands and blued steel equation hand with gilt brass tip. Silvered annual chapter ring and equation cam, revolving beneath the dial. M. Going barrel associated with a 65 seconds remontoire, pin-wheel escapement, fixed gridiron compensation, hal-seconds beating pendulum with spring suspension.Dim. 42 x 18 x 13 mm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

LOT 14

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Jn. R. Arnold, London, No. 151, circa 1790.Fine and rare, early small octagonal mahogany two day going marine chronometer.

C. Double body, octagonal, the cover with glazed aperture. D. Frosted silvered with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel pear hands. M. Brass full plate, relieved for the barrel, cylindrical pillars secured by pins, fusee with chain and maintaining power, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, two-arm compensation balance with poising and timing screws, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves. Diamond end-stone.Signed on the dial and back plate.Dial diam. 80 mm.Dim. 135 x 70 mm.

Grading System: AA

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

LOT 15

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Breguet No. 453, Pendule Pyramidale, Génie et Prudence, sold to Monsieur de Pourtales on October 22, 1806, for 3000 Francs.Extremely fine bronze and ormolu precision mantel regulator. One of the four precision clocks from the prestigious series of Pyramidales, made by Breguet with the magnificent bronze figures by Pierre-Philippe Thomire.

C. Portor marbel base standing on four gilt bronze engine-turned bun feet. The pendulum is hold above the escapement by two allegorical figures, featuring the Genius and the Experience. D. White enamel attributable to Dubuisson with Breguet numerals, the subsidiary seconds shown on a small silvered revolving chapter ring driven by the escapement. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass rectangular with cylindrical pillars and two going barrel wound separately. Highly unusual form of pivoted detent ecapement with twin escape wheels each with four ratchet teeth, one for locking, the other for the impulse on the jewelled pallet of the pendulum. Half second beating gridion pandulum with knife edge suspension.Signed on the dial and back plate.Dim. 63 x 34 x 21 cm.

Grading System:

CHF 0 - 0

LOT 16

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Breguet No. 153/2461, Garde Temps, constructed between 1808 and 1809, sold to Monsieur Barillon de l'Ile de France le 29 Novembre 1810 pour 1900 Francs. Returned by Doctor Portier on January 21, 1826, it was bought back by Breguet on February 14, 1826, for 900 Francs. Renovated to new condition, transferred to No. 4570 and sold to Son Excellence l'Ambassadeur de Russie, Comte Pozzo di Borgo on July 25, 1826 for 2400 Francs.Extremely fine gold pocket chronometer with power reserve indication, in a contemporary style red leather fitted box.

C. Three body garde-temps type, by Mermillod No. 596, renovated by Joly, engine-turned à grains d'orge. Gold cuvette secured by a screw. D. Engine-turned silver by Tavernier with Roman numerals on a plain reserve, subsidiary seconds on chapter "XII" and half-moon sector for the 30 hours power reserve Up-and-Down scale. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass, 23''', early garde-temps calibre, the inverted fusee with maintaining power, pivoted detent escapement, four-arm bimetallic compensationalance with pare-chute suspension on both pivots, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Diam. 62 mm.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 2993, delivered on October 29, 1962.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 130,000 - 150,000

LOT 17

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Breguet & Fils, No. 2897, Horloge Marine, lettre K, sold to Ducom on October 17, 1816, for 1500 Francs.Rare and fine mahogany marine chronometer, similar to those produced in the workshop of Louis Berthoud.

C. Double body mahogany box with slide on the lid over the glazed observation aperture. Brass gimball with a ladded bowl lined with velvet. Brass case en forme de tabatière. D. White enamel by Lucard (signed on the enamel backing), regulator type, with small Roman chapter for hours, subsidiary seconds below, outer Arabic minute ring on the border of the bezel. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Full plate with conical pillars secured by nuts with washers. Fusee with chain, and maintaining power, mainpring by Vincent dated August 1816, Louis Berthoud type pivoted detent escapement, four-arm compensation balance, with three wedged weights and timing screws, blued steel helical balance spring.Signed on the dial, the back plate and the dial rim.Dial diam. 80 mm.Dim. 13 x 14,5 x 15 cm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 37,950

LOT 18

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Breguet No. 3230, Montre Garde Temps, constructed between 1818 and 1819, sold on July 13, 1827 to Capitaine Baudin, for 14000 Francs.Fine silver pocket chronometer, in a later red leather fitted box.

C. Three body, massive, "forme quatre baguettes" by Amy Gros, No. 666, polished. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. Silver engine-turned with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring and subsidiary seconds on chapter "XII". Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 21''', gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain and maintaining power, the back plate relieved for the barrel, spring detent escapement, two-arm compensation balance with wedged weights and timing screws of Earnshaw type, diamnd end-stone, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Signed on the dial, cuvette and movement.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 2409, delivered on March 7, 1906.Diam. 59 mm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 66,700

LOT 19

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Breguet & Fils, Horlogers de la Marine Royale,No. 4514, made between 1825 and 1827.Very fine and rare silver Garde-Temps with twin barrels, accompanied by the original ratchet key, suspended from a short silver chain. Gimballed in original mahogany box.

C. Double body mahogany box with slide on the lid over the observation aperture. Brass bowl and gimballed suspension. Three body silver, polished, made by Amy Gros No. 755. Silver detachable cuvette. D. Frosted silver, the small eccentric hour ring with Roman numerals, outer minute ring intersecting with subsidiary seconds circle. Blued steel "spade and lance" hands. M. 26''', gilt brass, bar calibre with individually wound twin barrels, spring detent escapement with gold escape wheel, two-arm bmetallic compensation balance with poising and timing screws, pare-chute suspension on the top pivot, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Signed on the cuvette.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 3836.Diam. 66 mm.

Grading System: AAA

CHF 120,000 - 140,000

Sold: CHF 146,500

LOT 20

The Longitude at the Eve of the Third... Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

Breguet No. 4851, sold to Mr. Delaporte on10 February 1831, for 800 Francs.Fine two day marine chronometer, of small size, with single barrel.

C. Two body solid mahogany box, with sliding observation lid (replaced), brass external handles and fittings, brass bowl with threaded bezel, suspended in square pattern gimbals with rounded corners.D. Matted silver, the small chapter-ring with Roman hour and Arabic numerals, and symmetrical subsidiary seconds below. Blued steel "pear" hands. M. Brass full plate, with single going barrel, navette shaped platform No. 220, with spring detent escapement, bimetallic two armed balance. Free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Signed on the dial.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 3508.Dial diam: 95 mm.

Grading System: AA

CHF 18,000 - 22,000

Sold: CHF 21,850