210 lots

LOT 201

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

?Emery No. 661 ? Unique Experimental Lever Escapement? (Josiah) Emery, London, No. 661. Made 1774 ? 1775. Very fine, unique, highly important and historic, gilt-metal, pair-cased pocket watch with exceptionally early experimental lever escapement, very high-frequency balance, independent center seconds with stop-piece, Harrison-type balance spring and temperature compensation curb, a highly significant piece of the early history of the lever escapement, the first watch with a lever escapement to be made by Josiah Emery and one of the earliest watches ever to be made with a lever escapement. Property of an English Collector

C. Outer: two-body, polished. Inner: two-body, ?bassine?, polished.
D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minutes and fifths of seconds divisions, Arabic 15 minutes/seconds numerals. Gold ?poker and open lozenge? hour and minute hands, gold poker seconds hand with crescent tail.
M. 38.25 mm., gilt full plate, cylindrical pillars fixed by blued steel screws, fusee with chain, Harrison?s maintaining power, center seconds driven from a wheel mounted under the dial on an extension of the third wheel, blade for braking the seconds wheel, experimental lever escapement with polished steel escape wheel, one tooth jeweled, the lever with independently fixed long slender arms for the pallets and the fork, the fork made on two planes, two ?D? section pieces on the staff for impulse and safety action, gilt brass three-arm balance with two small steel poising screws eccentrically mounted and inset into the rim, jeweled pivot holes, high frequency of 36,000 beats per hour, Harrison-type blued steel balance spring with long straight tail, curb pins for temperature compensation, two-footed pierced and chased foliate balance cock, diamond endstone, spiral ?Chelsea bun? bimetallic temperature compensation curb mounted on a sliding steel frame with rack adjustment and silver segmental regulation scale, stop lever protruding from the edge of the dial plate. Movement signed. Diam. 54 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 500,000 - 700,000

USD 65,000 - 90,000

EUR 50,000 - 70,000

LOT 202

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

"The Musical Casket" English, in the manner of James Cox, the enamel in the manner of William Hopkins Craft, the watch signed Jas. Street, London, No. 3858. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1770. Very fine and important, ormolu, moss-agate, painted on enamel and goldstone glass musical casket playing a tune on six bells at will, with a detachable pair-cased gilt-metal and paste-set pocket watch.

The casket: Four-body, rectangular with canted corners, the hinged lid with a cast and chased hinged frame to hold the watch, decorated with foliate swags on a stepped pedestal base, secured by a pin attached with a chain, four basilisks, one at each corner, the sides set with round panels of foil-backed moss agate, the body set with three circular finely painted on enamel plaques, each with four round moss agate panels at each corner, the front depicting a young lady leaning against a wall and holding a bird on her finger in a landscape, the sides with vases of English summer flowers, the back with a goldstone and blue glass panel, drawer below fitted with a mirror, the base set with round panels of foil-backed moss agate, finely chased floral swags and curled feet. The musical movement: 105 x 95 mm., rectangular, brass, reverse fusee and chain, pinned barrel activating six hammers playing on a nest of six bells, winged governor, start/stop lever in the base. The watch: C. Outer, two-body, polished, the bezel set with green and white pastes, the back decorated with a painted on enamel scene of a horse in a landscape, royal blue translucent enamel border over engine-turning, white enamel bead inner and outer borders. Inner: two-body, "bassine", polished. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions and Arabic five minute numerals. Gold "beetle & poker" hands. M. 34 mm., gilt brass, full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee with gut-line, cylinder escapement, three-arm steel balance, flat balance spring, pierced and engraved balance cock, faceted red endstone, regulation dial. Movement signed. Dim. 27.5 x 12 x 13 cm. Diameter of watch. 49 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 120,000 - 160,000

USD 15,000 - 20,000

EUR 12,000 - 16,000

Sold: HKD 236,000

LOT 203

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

"The Faithful Guardian" Bovet, London, No. 333 & No. 334, Made for the Chinese market, circa 1830. Very fine and extremely rare, mirror-image pair of 18K gold and painted on enamel, center seconds pocket watches with duplex escapements. Property of a European Collector

Each: C. Two-body, "Chinese" type, scalloped edges, the back enamel panel finely painted with a rustic scene of a young child being frightened by a dog in a kennel, he clings to his mother who holds flowers in her skirts, a water mill and landscape in the background, the bezels, pendant and bow decorated with pale blue, red and green champlevé enamel. Hinged and sprung gold cuvette.
D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands.
M. 48 mm., gilt brass, Chinese calibre, fully engraved, standing barrel, duplex escapement, polished steel five-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator. Movements signed. Diam. 61 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 1,800,000 - 2,300,000

USD 230,000 - 300,000

EUR 185,000 - 235,000

Sold: HKD 2,309,000

LOT 204

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

"Pair of Flower Baskets" Ilbery, London, No. 6647 & No. 6662. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Extremely fine and extremely rare, mirror-image pair of 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watches with center seconds and duplex escapements. Property of a European Collector

Each: C. Two-body, "Empire", the bezels, pendant and bow set with split-pearls, the back cover decorated with a finely painted on enamel basket of summer flowers and fruits on a stone ledge, the basket set with split-pearls, outer border of black champleve enamel with red paillon berries and split-pearls. Hinged metal cuvette.
D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions, Arabic quarter-minute numerals. Gold "heart" hands. M. 50 mm., gilt brass, Chinese calibre, fully engraved with floral decoration, standing barrel, single wheel duplex escapement, plain five-arm polished steel balance, flat balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator. Movements signed. Diam. 59 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 1,400,000 - 1,700,000

USD 180,000 - 220,000

EUR 145,000 - 175,000

Sold: HKD 3,317,000

LOT 205

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

"Gathering in the Fishing Nets" Ilbery, London, No.5985, the enamel attributed to Jean-Louis Richter, Geneva. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Very fine and very rare, 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watch with duplex escapement. Property of a European Collector

C. Two-body, "Empire", the hinged back decorated with a finely painted view in the manner of Claude Vernet of fishermen in a calm harbor landscape with mountains in the distance. Hinged and sprung gold cuvette attached to the movement ring. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Pierced gold "tulip" hands. M. 48 mm., frosted gilt, foliate engraved, standing barrel, duplex escapement, flat-rim five-arm polished steel balance, diamond endstone, index regulator. Movement signed. Diam. 60 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 700,000 - 850,000

USD 90,000 - 110,000

EUR 72,000 - 87,000

Sold: HKD 708,000

LOT 206

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

"Feeding The Rabbits" Ilbery, London, No. 6138, the enamel attributed to Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1815. Extremely fine and very rare, 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set, center seconds pocket watch with duplex escapement. Property of a European Collector

C. Two-body, the fixed band, pendant and bow, with royal blue, pale blue and white champlevé enamelled decoration, bezels set with split-pearls, the back with a fine painted on enamel scene depicting three children feeding a rabbit, one cradling a baby rabbit, wooded landscape. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with scrols and a central rosette.
D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions, Arabic quarter-hour numerals. Gold ?ovoid? hands.
M. 49 mm., gilt brass, Chinese calibre, fully engraved with floral decoration, standing barrel, single wheel duplex escapement, plain five-arm polished steel balance, flat balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator. Movement signed. Diam. 60 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 550,000 - 700,000

USD 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 55,000 - 70,000

Sold: HKD 2,309,000

LOT 207

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

?Tiger Hunt? J. Ullmann & Co, Hong Kong, Shanghai & Tientsin. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1900. Very fine and exceptionally rare 18K gold, pearl-set and painted on enamel, keyless, hunting-cased, two-train, carillon, grande et petite sonnerie pocket watch with trip minute-repeat. Property of an Italian Gentleman

C. Five-body, "bassine et filets", champlevé enameled band, springloaded cover with a painted on enamel portrait of a young lady within a pearl-set frame on a blue enamel ground with gold paillon, the back cover with a painted on enamel scene of a horseman hunting a lion within a pearl-set frame on a blue ground with gilt paillons, hinged gold cuvette.
D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, outer minute track and Arabic five minutes. Gilt paste-set hands.
M. 19.5, frosted gilt, 1/2 plate, 28 jewels, two-barrels with tandem winding, lateral lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, repeating via three hammers on three gongs via push-trip in the band. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 56 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 120,000 - 160,000

USD 15,000 - 20,000

EUR 12,000 - 16,000

Sold: HKD 519,200

LOT 208

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

?Serpent Attack? Edouard Juvet, Fleurier, the enamel attributed to P.-Amédée Champod. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1870. Very fine and rare, large, silver gilt, painted on enamel and pearl-set center seconds pocket watch. Property of a Swiss Collector

C. Three-body, the back painted on enamel with a scene of two men in a boat on a jungle shoreline fighting two giant serpents with a hatchet and rifle, their ship moored in the distance, pearl-set bezels, pendant and bow. Spring-loaded silver-gilt cuvette.
D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions and Arabic 15-minute/seconds numerals. Gilt ?ovoid? hands.
M. 49 mm., gilt brass, entirely engraved, "Chinese" calibre, 6 jewels, free-standing barrel, lateral lever escapement, polished steel five-arm balance, blued steel flat balance-spring, faceted endstone, index regulator. Movement signed. Diam. 57 mm.

Grading System: AAA

HKD 80,000 - 100,000

USD 10,000 - 13,000

EUR 8,000 - 10,000

Sold: HKD 200,600

LOT 209

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

"Lavinia Receiving The Letter from Palemon" Piguet & Meylan, Genève, No. 3581, the case by Frères Oltramare. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Extremely fine and very rare, quarter-repeating, 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watch.

C. Four-body, "Empire", the bezels set with split-pearls and with pale blue champleve enamel borders, the band, pendant and bow decorated with royal blue enamel and the band set with split-pearls, the back cover decorated with a finely painted on enamel scene depicting Lavinia and Palemon in a wooded landscape. Hinged gold cuvette decorated with a pale blue champleé enamel flower and leaf garland.
D. Gold, matted chapter ring with polished radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds, engineturned center. Blued steel "Breguet" hands.
M. 45 mm., frosted gilt, standing barrel, jeweled cylinder escapement, three-arm gold balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator with bimetallic temperature compensation curb, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Movement punched with Piguet & Meylan's mark "PM" on the dial plate beneath the dial, case punched with Frères Oltramare's mark "FO". Diam. 53 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 550,000 - 700,000

USD 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 55,000 - 70,000

Sold: HKD 944,000

LOT 210

Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P... Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

?Prosperity for the Journey? Ilbery, London, No. 6326. Made for the Chinese market, the case with London hallmarks for 1815. Extremely fine and rare, unusual, 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watch with center seconds and duplex escapement. Property of a European Collector

C. Three-body, ?Empire?, the pendant and bow decorated with royal blue enamel and split-pearls, the band decorated with lozenges and flowerheads of royal blue, pale green and pale blue enamel, translucent red enamel border, the back cover decorated with a finely painted on enamel scene of a Cantonese harbor with Chinese junks on the water and mountains in the background, in the foreground a good luck ceremony is being performed with burning incense and a string of firecrackers, musicians and a group of gentlemen in seventeenth century Chinese dress performing the ceremony, split-pearl set border and bezel. Sprung gilt metal cuvette hinged to the movement ring.
D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions, Arabic 15 second numerals. Gold ?heart? hands.
M. 50 mm., frosted gilt, Chinese caliber, foliate engraved standing barrel and cocks, duplex escapement, bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel weights, temperature adjustment screws, blued steel flat balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator. Movement signed. Diam. 59.5 mm.

Grading System:

HKD 550,000 - 700,000

USD 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 55,000 - 70,000

Sold: HKD 1,861,000