Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Apr 23, 2006

LOT 296

?A La Breguet? Blondel & Melly, Genève, No. 13698. Made for the Islamic market circa 1830. Very fine and very rare, minute-repeating, 18K gold and painted on enamel hunting-cased pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement.

HKD 150,000 - 200,000

USD 20,000 - 25,000 / EUR 16,000 - 20,000

Sold: HKD 247,800

C. Four-body, massive, No. 4640, spring-loaded front cover with painted on enamel military trophy on an opalescent guilloche enamel ground, white line scallop-edged border and red, white and green foliate enamel outer border, the back cover similarly decorated, enameled pendant and bow. Gold latched cuvette engraved with the technical details. D. White enamel, radial Islamic numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 42 mm, frosted gilt, early bridge caliber, 22 jewels, ruby cylinder escapement, plain gold three-arm balancethe top pivot with pare-chute, flat blued steel balance spring, index regulator with bimetallic temperature compensation curb, repeating on gongs activated by pull and twist piston in the pendant. Cuvette and case signed. Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-55

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-14-01

Good

Damaged

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is an unabashed homage to Breguet and is of similar quality. It utilizes Breguet?s ruby cylinder escapement, parechute shock protection device and temperature compensation curb. Minute repeating watches from this date are very rare. Blondel & Melly, 15 Quai des Bergues, Geneva, 1820 - 1850. Watchmakers and merchants. Very high quality watches, specially formed and sealed cases, enamel, pearls and stones, complicated watches. "Dictionaire des Horlogers Genevois" Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions Geneva, 1998