Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Monaco, Jul 19, 2022
LOT 265
BUECHE-GIROD
REF. WG 11702-1, SELF-WINDING, CENTRE-SECONDS, DATE, MERCEDES AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR GRILL; 18K WHITE GOLD
EUR 4,000 - 8,000
USD 4,200 - 8,400 / HKD 32,800 - 66,000 / CHF 4,000 - 8,000
Sold: EUR 3,900
18K white gold, self-winding, asymmetrical horizontal rectangular-shaped gentleman’s wristwatch in the shape of a Mercedes automobile radiator grill, central “Vendôme”-type screwed lugs, snap-on case-back, grey colour dial with centre-seconds and instantaneous date of the month.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-8 |
Good Slightly scratched |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Brand Bueche-Girod, Bienne / Biel
Model “Mercedes”
Reference WG 11702-1
Year circa 1968-1970
Movement No. unnumbered
Case No. 90 549 (by Guillod, Gunther S.A., La Chaux-de-Fonds)
Material 18K white gold
Bracelet black leather strap
Buckle stainless steel buckle
Caliber 11’’’ ½ (based on 1862 / 63 by AS, André Schild, Grenchen / Granges), 17 jewels
Height 40.4 mm.
Width 36.8 mm.
Weight 43 gr. (approx.)
Signature dial, case and movement
Notes
Bueche-Girod
House founded in Biel / Bienne at the beginning of the 1950s by V. Buèche-Girod. It remains famous for its self-winding wristwatches, triple date with or without moon phase, from the 1950s, then the extra-thin ones from the 1960s. During the years 1960-1970, Bueche-Girod was one of the subcontractors of Cartier, Paris, for the manufacture of men’s and lady’s wristwatches. Next came wristwatches representing the radiator grill of cars, including Mercedes, Lancia and Volvo; these models were presented at the 1968 Basel Fair and were mostly made in white gold. In 1956, Roy C. King of Watford (Hertfordshire; about thirty kilometres northwest of London) set up a Bueche-Girod sales agency for the import of Swiss watches and other items of Swiss horology into Great Britain. In 1974, a Bueche-Girod agency was established in New York. The company does not recover from the quartz crisis and disappears at the end of the 1970s or the very beginning of the 1980s.
House founded in Biel / Bienne at the beginning of the 1950s by V. Buèche-Girod. It remains famous for its self-winding wristwatches, triple date with or without moon phase, from the 1950s, then the extra-thin ones from the 1960s. During the years 1960-1970, Bueche-Girod was one of the subcontractors of Cartier, Paris, for the manufacture of men’s and lady’s wristwatches. Next came wristwatches representing the radiator grill of cars, including Mercedes, Lancia and Volvo; these models were presented at the 1968 Basel Fair and were mostly made in white gold. In 1956, Roy C. King of Watford (Hertfordshire; about thirty kilometres northwest of London) set up a Bueche-Girod sales agency for the import of Swiss watches and other items of Swiss horology into Great Britain. In 1974, a Bueche-Girod agency was established in New York. The company does not recover from the quartz crisis and disappears at the end of the 1970s or the very beginning of the 1980s.