Jaquet Droz, Swiss, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1780. Fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel very large watch with moon calendar, 1/4 seconds " diablotine" and visible balance. | Important Collectors Wristwatches Pocket Watches & Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 21st October 1995

Important Collectors Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995

LOT 725

Jaquet Droz, Swiss, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1780. Fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel very large watch with moon calendar, 1/4 seconds " diablotine" and visible balance.

CHF 33,000 - 38,000

C. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezels chased with foliage decoration, the back panel of violet translucent enamel over engine-turning, decorated with "paillonné" vine branches and centred with flowers within a white enamel ring with roundels ornaments. D. White enamel with independent small dials for hours, minutes and seconds, subsidiary chais for the foudroyante, the slow/fast regulator and the moon calendar, aperture for the visible balance. Gold "beetle and arrow" bands. M. Hinged gilt brass inverted full plate with cylindrical pillars, diamond-set four-arm balance, flat balance spring, diamond endstone, the back plate finely engraved with scrolling foliage. Gold dust ring. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 69 mm.

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This watch is characteristic of the production of Jaquet-Droz for the Chinese Market due to its large size, its engraved movement and the " paillonné" decorative motif. Furthermore the Chinese, who did not in general buy watches without the indication of seconds, held a particular interest for those with a visible balance and with special features such as the indication of a quarter of second via the "diablotine" and information of astronomical nature such as a moon calendar. This watch is therefore an excellent example of the Swiss luxury production destined for the Chinese Market.