Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 170

Lovers' Promenade Attributed to Jaquet Droz, Geneva circa 1775. Exceptionally fine and extremely rare 20K gold and painted on enamel musical carillon watch playing three tunes.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

EUR 40,000 - 53,000 / USD 47,000 - 62,000

Sold: CHF 127,800

C. Two-body, "Louis XV", back painted on enamel without over-glaze with a scene in oval depicting a young woman strolling with her suitor in a park, border with translucent imperial blue enamel cartouches over flinqué, pierced for sound, bezel en suite, extended hinge. D. White enamel, secured by a single screw at 12, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with large five-minute Arabic markers. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 37.5 mm., gilt brass, half-plate two tier, cylindrical pillars, cylinder esapement, brass escape wheel, three-arm steel balance with flat balance spring controlled by Joseph Bosley type regulator, continental pierced and engraved cock, musical movement activated by depressing the pendant which wind the spring via fusee-like chain, pinned drum cylinder designed for three tunes changed automatically after each play, carillon of five bells and five hammers with adjustable stop levers for fine music tuning, most of the musical train set in the lower tier, fly governor withtwo adjustable wings for regulating the tempo.Case punched "20K" and "T.F/O"Diam. 46 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 51
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 19 - 01

Notes

One of the earliest carillon watches that can be attributed to Jaquet Droz, indisputable master of them. It is of very high quality with special attention paid to details such as regulation of the tempo and securing the steel posts with threaded nuts. Certain features are more typical of the English rather than the Swiss tradition: the stability of the balance was increased by the use of steel, while brass was generally accepted in Switzerland; the use of the Bosley regulator also is more typical of the British tradition, for the Swiss had long used Tompions's version. The use of the cylinder escapement was also more commonly used by the English than the Swiss, especially for good English watches; the verge escapement was still dominant in Switzerland.. Jaquet Droz had frequent dealings with the English market and opened a branch in London; he would no doubt has been amply informed of British taste at the time. Carillon watches from this period are very rare. The earliest appeared in London during the second quarter of the 18th century, and were made by John Archambo one is in the British Museum, one is in the Louvre, a third is in the C. athan Collection, Bâle. Jaquet Droz was the first to introduce them on the continent. The present watch appears to be one of the earliest in existence. For a biography of Jaquet Droz, see lot 366.