Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Apr 23, 2006

LOT 125

?Scarlet Bouquet? Charman & Co., London, No. 9066, London hallmarks for 1816-1817, case by Louis Comptees. Made for the Chinese market. Very fine and rare, large 18K gold painted on enamel, pearlset pocket watch.

C. Three-body, "Empire" with fixed cuvette, engine-turned band, split pearl-set bezels, pendant and bow, the back painted on enamel with a fine bouquet of summer flowers against translucent red enamel over a sunburst engine-turned ground, the scalloped border decorated in champlevé enamel. Springloaded back opened by a push-piece in the pendant. D. Off-white enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Gold "spade" hands. M. 49 mm, hinged, full-plate, gilt, going barrel, cylindrical pillars, cylinder escapement, brass four-arm balance, the balance and the steel escape wheel jeweled, both with ruby endstones, flat balance spring with Joseph Bosley patented regulator, gilded cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage. Gilded dust-cap finely engraved with scrolling foliage. Signed on the back plate and numbered on the dial, case with master mark L.C. Diam. 61 mm.