The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 60

Recordon, London, No. 2977, circa 1820, made for the Islamic market. Very fine, rare and interesting 18K gold and painted on enamel "cabriolet" quarter-repeating watch in the Breguet style, with ruby cylinder escapement.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 26,000 / USD 22,000 - 30,000

Sold: CHF 41,400

C. No. 1260, both with a punch of master casemaker Joly. Outer: Two-body, back painted on enamel depicting a harbor scene with a ship in the foreground, a castle on the shore, large rock formation in the background,border with translucent scarlet enamel with gold scrolling, bezels en suite with gold and blue enamel foliate pattern. Inner: Four-body, center with painted on enamel bouquet of flowers against translucent scarlet enamel over flinqué, border in light pink enamel with stylized gold foliage, bezels en suite to the outer case bezel.D. White enamel, by master dial-maker Lucard, Islamic numerals, outer minute divisions with fifteen-minute Islamic markers, gilt rosette in the center, secured by a single screw. M. 39 mm (18'''), frosted gilt, standing barrel, continuous stop work, ruby cylinder escapement with a ruby insert in the middle of the staff, brass escape wheel, three-arm gold balance with compensation curb and pare-chute, repeating on square gongs through pull-and-turn piston in the pendant.Signed on the dial and cuvette, case punched with French "prestige" marks.Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-21

Good

Period
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch presents remarkable similarities with Breguet's work. At the time, Breguet was also making spectacular enamel watches for the Islamic market. These watches were pair cased, the back was very often painted with a harbor scene, the activation of the repeater was also the same, and for the cases Breguet used Master casemaker Joly (see Antiquorum, June 14, 2003, lot 254). The movements were also very similar, with ruby cylinder escapement (although overhanging), and quarter repeating, and the dial was also similar to that of the present watch, made by Lucard and often secured by a screw with a central gilt rosette.The watch clearly shows Recordon's continental origin. In spite of the escapement, which is typically English, the case, the dial, the pull-twist piston through the pendant and the compensation curb are clearly in the Breguet style.Recordon apparently had a Middle Eastern clientele interested in watches almost identical to Breguet's. He was certainly better equipped to respond to this demand than anyone else in England.