Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Apr 23, 2006

LOT 147

?Wooden Watch? II P. Made in Russia or Central Europe, circa 1820. Fine and very rare, birchwood pocket watch with birchwood movement.

HKD 40,000 - 55,000

USD 5,200 - 7,000 / EUR 4,300 - 6,000

Sold: HKD 40,120

C. Two-body, ?Empire?, wooden, with glazed back, the bezels with turned ribbed decoration, gilt brass hinge. D. Silver, annular, with radial champlevé Roman numerals on polished reserves, outer minute track, wooden center. Steel Breguet hands. M. 41 mm., wooden plate mounted on a brass front plate, wooden bridges, wooden standing barrel, wooden wheel train, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Diam. 51 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

Watches made of birchwood are usually made by the Bronnikov family of watchmakers working in Vjatka, Russia. However, the watches made by Bronnikov are quite distinctive and the movements are usually made entirely of wood and bone and the reverse of the dial forms the front plate for the wheel-train. The present watch, whilst clearly inspired by the Bronnikov's work is likely to have been made in central Europe because the movement is a European movement copied in wood, and the dial is made as a separate piece.