Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 15, 2015

LOT 417

DUBOIS ET FILS - CHRONOS WANDERING HOURS WATCH YELLOW GOLD Dubois et Fils, the movement probably by Aimé Janneret- Dubois in the manner of Breguet "Etablissement Mixte". Made circa 1820. Very fine and extremely rare, large, 18K gold, eight-day going "wandering hour" pocket watch.

CHF 16,000 - 22,000

HKD 134,000 - 184,000 / USD 17,000 - 24,000

Sold: CHF 18,750

Four-body, "Empire", polished back cover, fluted band, gilt spring-loaded cuvette. White enamel segment with minute divisions and Arabic numerals set in the top of a gold mask engraved with the figure of Chronos, wandering Arabic blued- steel hour numerals passing through aperture, indicating the correct minute. 54.4 mm. gilt brass, unusual bridge calibre, large free-standing barrel, cylinder escapement, plain three- arm gold balance, flat balance spring, balance jewelled, third and fourth wheels in skeletonised polished steel bridge.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial and cuvette signed, case stamped inside back cover 'PHPI, 6187. DIAM. 61.5 mm. This interesting and rare watch relates very closely to the "Etablissement Mixte" series of watches made outside BREGUET's shop under his supervision. AIMÉ JANNERET-DUBOIS is known to have made watches which were sold under the Breguet name, an example by him and retailed by Breguet in 1824 was sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, May 15, 2005, lot 191. This watch is also almost identical to an example formerly in the Sandberg Collection, signed "Breguet, Etablissement Mixte" sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, October 16, 2005, lot 51. Interestingly both these watches bear the same case mark "PHPI" as the present watch and are also in the same number series. Watches with a wandering hour dial first appeared in the 17th century. More recently, the idea has enjoyed a revival, being introduced into the wristwatch. Three other similar watches have been sold by Antiquorum in Geneva: October 18, 1992, Lot 238; April 21, 1996, Lot 169; April 13, 1997, Lot 593.