Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 25, 2021

LOT 262

IWC
REF. 5241, PORTUGUESE SKELETON MINUTE REPEATER, WHITE GOLD

HKD 225,000 - 296,400

USD 29,000 - 38,000 / CHF 27,000 - 35,340

Sold: HKD 306,250

Very fine and rare, oversized, skeletonized, minute-repeating, 18K white gold wristwatch. Made in a limited edition of 50 pieces circa 2005.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Brand IWC

Reference 5241

Year Circa 2005

Case No. 3080908

Buckle IWC 18K white gold deployant clasp

Caliber 95911

Dimensions 43 mm

Signature Case, Dial and Movement

Accessories IWC box, open paper

Notes

A minute repeating watch tells the time both visually and audibly. A slide on the side of the case, usually near the 9, will activate two hammers in the movement. These hammers strike two gongs curled within the case. First, one hammer strikes a gong of lower tonality; it will count out the hours. Then both hammers will strike both gongs alternatively to count out the quarter hours after that hour, and then the second hammer alone striking a gong of higher tonality will count out the minutes after that quarter hour. The repeating mechanism was developed by Daniel Quare. In 1687, he patented a mechanism that sounded the hours and the quarter hours. The early repeaters used bells. At the end of the 18th century, two bent-wire gongs became the more popular mechanism. In 1892, the first minute repeater wristwatch was produced by Omega, a model with a round-shaped case.