Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces.

Hong Kong, Oct 27, 2018

LOT 279

CHARLES BARBEZAT-BAILLOT - FIX WATCH CO. WATCH WITH SEVEN HOROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS, 18K YELLOW GOLD

HKD 104,000 - 144,000

CHF 13,000 - 18,000 / USD 13,300 - 18,400

Sold: HKD 137,500

18K yellow gold, hunting-case, keyless-winding, round-shaped, Art Nouveau pocket watch, hinged case-back, subsidiary seconds at 9 and seven horological complications: Minute-repeater on two steel gongs (activated by the rectangular push-piece located on the case-band at 6 o'clock), 1/5 second chronograph (activated by the rectangular push-piece located on the case-band at 4 o'clock), Half-instantaneous 30-minute recorder (subsidiary dial at 3 o'clock), Date of the month (subsidiary dial at 9 o'clock), Day of the week (aperture at 12 o'clock; indications given in Spanish), Month of the year (aperture at 6 o'clock; indications given in Spanish), Phases of the moon (aperture at 9 o'clock) Movement based on the Swiss invention patent no. 334, delivered on January 8, 1889, to Charles Barbezat-Baillot, Le Locle, for a "Perfectionnements apportés à la construction des mécanismes de répétition pour montres de poche de toutes dimensions" (Improvements to the construction of the mechanisms of repetition for pocket watches of all sizes). Case-back and cover engraved in taille-douce and guilloché engine-turned with Neo-classical décor. The watch presented here is accompanied by a box allowing, when it is locked in, to trigger the repetition. It's also a creation of Charles Barbezat-Baillot (Swiss invention Paten.. 4,067, dated May 14, 1892, for a "Porte-montre pour répétitions", Watch Holder for RepeatersA").


Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Brand Fix Watch Co.

Model Cronòmetro Repeticiòn - 1A Clase" - "Fix", retailed by El Trust, Madrid

Year circa 1910

Movement No. 147 078

Case No. 51 983

Caliber 21'' gilded brass, with going barrel, straight-line lever escapement, compensated balance and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve

Dimensions Ø 55 mm.

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories original patented fitted box, long gold chain; copies of the invention patent and advertisements

Notes

Barbezat-Baillot, Charles (1847-1938), Le Phare, Dixi, etc. The company was founded by Charles Barbezat-Baillot (1847-1938). He was the elder brother of Henri Barbezat-Bôle (1851-1921), the founder of “H. Barbezat-Bôle S.A., Le Locle”. El Trust, Joyero y Relojero Internacional, Madrid This Madrilenian watchmaking and jewellery (Puerta del Sol, No. 12) is managed in the early 20th century by D. Modesto Largo Alvarez. It then markets exclusively for Spain the watches "Fix Watch Co.", a registered trademark of the Charles Barbezat-Baillot (1847-1938) company of Le Locle (co-founded in the 1870's, with Henry Guye (1838 -1877), under the name "Guye & Barbezat"). This house is then known worldwide for its pieces "Le Phare" (The Lighthouse), fitted with its centrifugal force regulator for repeater (Swiss invention paten.. 334, dated January 8, 1889, for "Perfectionnements apportés à la construction des mécanismes de répétition pour montres de poche de toutes dimensions" (Improvements to the construction of the mechanisms of repetition for pocket watches of all sizes), several times award-winning invention, at the Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva in 1896, the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900, etc.). It's probably following a commercial contract that the Le Locle company then provides this retailer with the best of its production, including models with minute-repeater, chronograph with recorder and perpetual calendar or triple date. In the 1920's, this Spanish retailer (who also opened a store in San Sebastian in the Basque-Country) offers his customers watches by Longines (including pocket watches with minute-repeater on three gongs, known as Carillon or Chime) and by Patek Philippe, manufacture of which it is still depositary in the 1950's. Meanwhile, with the War of Spain, this retailer emigrated in 1936, in Argentina, in Buenos Aires. The house is then in the hands of C. Pellegrini, Esq. Corrientes.