Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020
LOT 71
Bovet
Pocket watch with centre-seconds, made for the Chinese market; silver, enamel and pearls
Pocket watch with centre-seconds, made for the Chinese market; silver, enamel and pearls
HKD 53,000 - 70,000
CHF 6,500 - 8,500 / USD 6,900 - 9,000
Silver, enamel and pearl-set, open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, with centre-seconds, made for the Chinese market.
Case-back with polychrome painting on enamel, by an unidentified workshop, showing the portrait of a young Western woman, in bust, looking to the left, on a Royal blue flinqué background (translucent enamel over guilloché engine-turning); bezels set with half-pearls.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals and gold “paillons” décor; blued steel “Spade” hands.
Movement 21’’’, gilded brass, engraved Chinese-style, going barrel, lateral equilibrated lever escapement, compensated balance with gold poising screws and steel flat hairspring, index regulator.
Case-back with polychrome painting on enamel, by an unidentified workshop, showing the portrait of a young Western woman, in bust, looking to the left, on a Royal blue flinqué background (translucent enamel over guilloché engine-turning); bezels set with half-pearls.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals and gold “paillons” décor; blued steel “Spade” hands.
Movement 21’’’, gilded brass, engraved Chinese-style, going barrel, lateral equilibrated lever escapement, compensated balance with gold poising screws and steel flat hairspring, index regulator.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Brand Bovet, Fleurier (Val-de-Travers)
Year circa 1880
Movement No. 69
Case No. 83 328 (with prestige hallmarks imitating a London letter-date “J”, which, in fact, doesn’t exist)
Caliber 21’’’, lateral equilibrated lever escapement
Dimensions Ø 56.2 mm.
Signature case
Notes
Prestige hallmarks
British hallmarks were sometimes faked or imitated, especially in the 18th and early 19th centuries when English watchmaking enjoyed a reputation as the finest there was. Marks looking like British hallmarks were out into watchcases to lead people to think that a watch was of English make. Sometimes pseudo ‘‘hallmarks’’, marks that were meant to look somewhat like hallmarks without trying to be out-and-out fake hallmarks, were stamped in order to make a case look more impressive.
British hallmarks were sometimes faked or imitated, especially in the 18th and early 19th centuries when English watchmaking enjoyed a reputation as the finest there was. Marks looking like British hallmarks were out into watchcases to lead people to think that a watch was of English make. Sometimes pseudo ‘‘hallmarks’’, marks that were meant to look somewhat like hallmarks without trying to be out-and-out fake hallmarks, were stamped in order to make a case look more impressive.