Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020

LOT 68

Henry Grandjean
Large pocket watch, quarter-repeater, clock-watch, Grande et Petite Sonnerie; 18K yellow gold

HKD 56,000 - 72,000

CHF 7,000 - 9,000 / USD 7,400 - 9,500

18K yellow gold, open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, large pocket watch, with three horological complications:
• Quarter-repeater on two steel gongs by two hammers (activated by the push-piece located on the pendant; safety bolt locking the repeater’s functions (slide located on the case-band at 2 o’clock)
• Grande Sonnerie
• Petite Sonnerie
with position lever of “S” (Sonnerie – strike) and “Ns” (Non sonne or Silence – no strike), and, position lever of “Grande Sonnerie / Petite Sonnerie”, both on the right side of the pendant, placed under the bezel, at 1 o’clock)
Case-back engraved in taille-douce (fine cut) with the portrait of a young lady surrounded by two Cupids. Case-band chased and engraved with foliages. Cuvette (dome) engraved with the technical specifications.
Silver, partly gilded, dial with Roman numerals.
Movement 22’’’, gilded brass, with two going barrels, ruby-set cylinder escapement, monometallic balance (polished steel) and blued steel flat hairspring, index regulator; “Neuchâteloise” repeater work.


Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Henry Grandjean, Le Locle

Year circa 1850-1860

Case No. 13 631

Caliber 22’’’, cylinder escapement

Dimensions Ø 57.7 mm

Signature cuvette (dome)

Accessories contemporary fitted box (numbered “27505”)

Notes

Reverse of the dial stamped “E F B”, engraved with an etching-needle “1852”
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 working-class 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.w