The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 779

?Large 26-Tooth Inverted Cylinder Escapement? Arnould a Nancy, No. 1737, case No. 866. Made circa 1750. Fine and extremely rare, quarter repeating, vari-colored gold pocket watch with unusual large cylinder escapement mounted on the backplate.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,500 - 6,000 / USD 5,500 - 7,000

Sold: CHF 8,260

C. Two-body, ?Louis XV?, the bezel chased with scrolls and flowers, the back cover decorated with a vari-colored gold trophy of scientific instruments against a sunray background and within a scroll border. D. White enamel with Arabic numerals, gold dot minute markers and Arabic quarter-hour numerals. Gilt brass pierced hand. M. 32 mm., gilt brass, full-plate, ring turned pillars, fusee with chain, inverted cylinder escapement, the large 26-tooth brass escape wheel with six spokes and mounted on the backplate beneath a foliate engraved gilt brass cock, three-arm steel balance wheel and steel cylinder mounted within the two-tier balance cock pierced and engraved with foliate scrolls, polished steel endplates for the upper and lower pivots, index regulator. Movement signed. Diam. 39 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-15

Good

Slightly rusted
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-24-02

Good

Slightly chipped

HANDS Service hands

Notes

The movement of the present watch is designed around a large inverted cylinder escapement which unusually is mounted above the backplate and secured by a cock rather than placed between the plates in the usual manner. The balance and cylinder can be removed as one piece, as the cock for the lower balance pivot is underslung from the balance cock. This watch would have been a more accurate timekeeper than the typical watch with verge escapement of the period and the delicate escapement can be very easily removed completely for servicing. Arnould was obviously a very inventive and quite sophisticated maker and must have been in contact with or been familiar with the work of the best Paris watchmakers, incorporating and developing these ideas into his own work. Nicolas Arnould Born in Pulligny and working in Nancy around 1752. In 1760 he sold clocks in a lottery. Another watch with two balances signed Arnould a Nancy is in the Musee de la Chaux de Fonds.