Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 221

Henry Moser & Cie, Le Locle, St. Petersburg, Moscow, No. 56426. Made circa 1910 for the Russian market. Fine and interesting, 14K gold Art Nouveau, keyless pocket watch. Accompanied by the original fitted box.

CHF 2,300 - 3,300

EUR 1,500 - 2,000 / USD 2,000 - 2,700

Sold: CHF 2,875

C. Four body, ?demi-bassine?, fully decorated with raised basket with flowers, floral garlands, laurel leaves and scrolling, bezel en suite, band in geometrical pattern on the upper part, polished lower part, gold hinged cuvette. D. Matte silver, painted Breguet numerals, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands. M. 19''', nickel plated, 16 jewels, ?fausses côtes? decoration, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed, stamped with Moser's mark on the movement and case. Diam. 50 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good

Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Johann Heinrich Moser The youngest in the family of 12 children, Johann Heinrich Moser was born December 12, 1805 in Schaffhausen. His father, Erhard Moser (1760-1829) was a clockmaker and city councillor. When Johann was 15 years old, he was apprenticed to his father. Four years later became a journeyman, a necessary condition at that time to be eligible to become a free clockmaker or a watchmaker. He went to Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. In his later days he wrote his memoirs, which have survived. He claims that in his journeyman years he worked year after year from 5 o'clock in the morning to 10 o'clock at night, he mentioned that even on New Year's Eve of 1824 he worked until 11 o'clock at night and spent New Year's Day repairing his clothes. Sundays he spent writing letters to relatives and friends.