Tiffany & Co. No. 78061, circa 1900. Extraordinary 18 ct. gold hunting cased, keyless minute repeating Art-Nouveau watch with days of the week, split seconds chronograph and highly unusual mnemonic alarm. | Important Collector's Wristwatches and watches | Hong Kong, Hotel Furama Kempinski, 14th June 1995

Important Collector's Wristwatches an...

Hong Kong, Hotel Furama Kempinski, Jun 14, 1995

LOT 285

Tiffany & Co. No. 78061, circa 1900. Extraordinary 18 ct. gold hunting cased, keyless minute repeating Art-Nouveau watch with days of the week, split seconds chronograph and highly unusual mnemonic alarm.

HKD 230,000 - 300,000

USD 30,000 - 40,000

C. Three body, massive, bassine, cover and back chased in high relief, centred with foliage rosettes, the cover with symbolic representation of the four seasons between four portraits, the back with figures of angels between four other portraits, the bow chase with nudes of a man and a lady, the winding crown set with a garnet. D. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute and chronograph ring, sunk subsidiary dials for the days of the week and running seconds. Blued steel spade hands. M. 19-, nickel plated, three quarter plate, double train with differential winding, 49 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring with swan neck micrometric index. Repeating on gongs with slide in the band. Chronograph with visible work, plit seconds push piece in the band. Mnemonic alarm stricking on a single gong fixed inside the back. The mnemonic alarm is programmed to strike: Once on Sunday 8.15 p.m. Three time on Saturday 10.15 a. 12.15 a. 8.15 p.m. Three Lime on week day 10.15 a. 3.15 p.m. 8.15 p.m. Signai on the dial and the movement. h1 very good condition. Diam. 56 mm.

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Notes

Such an odd way of alarm signal, which can not be modified, associated with a split seconds chronograph, suggest a very specific utilisation related with daily events taking place always at the sanie time with a very accura te timing. According to the period the watch Kvas made, in our opinion, only the railways could require such necessity. The watch being sold in the United State of America and according to its important value, the name of Jay Gould, the famous financier, railway magnate and controlling president of the Western Union Telegraph Company appears to bee the most probable owner of the watch. Therefore, the portraits chased on the cover back, could be the members of his family. This watch could have been made for the inauguration of the first transpan American line. The experts of Antiquorum would gladly offer a bottle of Champagne to anyone who could supply a better Glue to this enigma.