Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces...

Hong Kong, Dec 05, 2021

LOT 104

BOVET
Pocket watch, centre-seconds, made for the Chinese market; silver, enamel and pearls

HKD 25,000 - 51,000

EUR 2,900 - 5,800 / CHF 3,000 - 6,100 / USD 3,300 - 6,600

Silver, enamel and pearl-set, open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, with centre-seconds, made for the Chinese market.
Royal blue flinquéenamel (translucent enamel over guilloché engine-turning) case-back, with polychrome painting on enamel showing the portrait of a young Western woman, in bust, looking to the left; 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, polished steel 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)

Diameter 56.2 mm

Caliber 21’’’, lateral equilibrated lever escapement

Weight 117.6 gr. (approx.)

Signature case (Chinese Bovet’s trademark)

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.