Important Watches, Pocket Watches and...

Noga Hilton Hotel, Nov 13, 2005

LOT 247

?Chronometer Tourbillon? Girard-Perregaux, Chaux-de-Fonds, No. 51364. Made for the Hispanic market, circa 1875. Very fine and rare 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless pocket chronometer, with one-minute Guinand type II tourbillon regulator.

CHF 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 45,000 - 60,000 / USD 55,000 - 70,000

Sold: CHF 86,250

C. Four-body, massive "bassine et filets", engine-turned with ribbed band, the cover centered with a monogram, the band of the front cover inscribed ?Los Empleados del Ferro-Carril de Pisagua a su Jefe Sr. Dn. Gmo. Grundy. Sbre.28-78.? Hinged gold cuvette with engineturned and chased foliate border, glazed gold-rimmed cover to view the movement. D. Silver with painted radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute markers and subsidiary seconds, the center and outer border decorated with cast and engraved gold foliage. Blued steel pierced "tulip" hands. M. 19''', nickel plated, geometric decoration, gold wheel train, 15 jewels in gold chatons, wolf?s tooth winding, Swiss pivoted detent escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring with perpendicular stud for preventing excessive amplitude, Guinand type II polished steel tourbillon carriage with gold index scale. Dial cuvette and movement signed. Diam. 53.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-15

Good

Slightly rusted

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ernest Guinand (c. 1810-1879). Guinand was an important Master Horologist from Le Locle, who, along with Auguste Grether from Ponts-de-Martel (1817-1879), specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages. According to the records of the Neuchâtel Observatory, Guinand's production of tourbillons began between 1865 and 1867. He designed three models of Tourbillon carriages, always based on an A-shaped frame. He worked for several important makers, including Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. Most of Guinand?s carriages were equipped with a pivoted detent escapement, one with spring detent and some with lever escapement. Most of his carriages were not signed and can only be identified by their characteristic A-shape. In 1864 Patek Philippe chose him to build their first tourbillon regulator.