Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 28, 2019

LOT 397

H. GRANDJEAN & CO. HISTORICAL POCKET WATCH WITH THREE HOROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING QUARTER-REPEATER AND DEAD INDEPENDENT SECONDS; 18K YELLOW GOLD

HKD 78,000 - 93,000

CHF 9,900 - 11,850 / USD 10,000 - 12,000

18K yellow gold, hunting-case, keyless-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, made for the South American market, with three horological complications: - Quarter-repeater on two steel gongs (activated by the slide at 6 o'clock) - Dead independent seconds (exterior graduation with central hand; activated by the rectangular push-piece located on the border of the bezel at 4 o'clock) - Two barrels with differential gears and bidirectional-winding inspired by Sylvain Mairet's (1805-1890) works (1850 / 1855) Cover and case-back engraved in taille-douce (fine cut) with stylized foliage and geometric patterns; chiselled case-band; cover with, in a central escutcheon, the cypher "A A C"; inside cover with a dedication to Alejandro A. Cameron (1868-1950), for 18 years services at the Sociedad Explotadora (Mining Company), Tierra del Fuego, Chile, as General manager (1893-1915).


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand H. Grandjean & Co

Year circa 1880

Movement No. 26 948

Calibre  19''', rhodium-plated, with two going barrels, gold train of wheels, straight-line equilibrated lever escapement, compensated balance with gold and platinum poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve

Case No. 26 948

Material 18K yellow gold

Caliber 19''', rhodium-plated, with two going barrels, gold train of wheels, straight-line equilibrated lever escapement, compensated balance with gold and platinum poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve

Dimensions Ø 53.2 mm.

Signature dial, case and movement

Notes

Grandjean, Henri Le Locle, December 14, 1803 ?? Le Locle, March 21, 1879 Swiss chronometer maker, active in Le Locle and London. From 1824 until 1830 he was assigned the task of organizing the South American branches of his father’s company; in 1830, his brother Henri-Gustave Grandjean emigrated to Peru and was from then on in charge of these businesses. Henri Grandjean trained as a watchmaker in his home town. Around 1830, his factory “Henri Grandjean & Cie.” began to build marine chronometers that were modelled on the English chronometers. His business partner was at the time Edouard Thévenaz. Together with Louis-Jean Richard and Ulysse Nardin, he was the originator of the Swiss marine chronometer production. Along with Constant Girard (1825- 1903; later Girard-Perregaux), Henry Grandjean was also one of the first to enter the South American Market. In 1831, Grandjean married Elise Montandon, the daughter of Isaac-Pierre Montandon. He was granted permission to open watchmaking schools and founded the observatory at Neuchâtel. Later, Grandjean went into politics and became representative and prefect of the city of Le Locle. In La Chaux-de-Fonds, he worked for the establishment of the Quartier-Neuf, which was finally built in 1855; his intention was to eliminate real estate speculation and to create low priced housing for workingclass families. In 1851, at the first Universal Exposition in London, Grandjean received a First Class medal. His list of medals continues until 1868, the year in which the company won an award for its marine chronometers. In the meantime, they also received at least eight different awards, not including those from the Observatory of Neuchâtel. In 1873, the company received in Vienne, a Diploma of Honour (Gold Medal) and the Merit Medal. Henry Grandjean died in 1879 but it appears that the company continued for the next twenty years until 1899, the year in which Rossel & Fils registered their name as successors, who were also most likely running the company during these 20 years. On January 9, 1908, Rossel & Fils transferred the title to Charles-Ferdinand Perret. A street in Le Locle was named after him ?? the rue Henri Grandjean. Cameron, Alejandro A. Dunedin, New Zealand, 1868 ?? Hurlingham, Argentina, 1950 Alexander Allan Cameron, from New Zealand, also known in Argentina and Chile as Alejandro A. Cameron, was an administrator, emigrating in South America since 1892.