Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994
LOT 25
Bellejean, Neuveville, Swiss, circa 1740. Extremely rare and fine silver watch with special verge escapement.
CHF 12,000 - 15,000
Sold: CHF 24,150
C. Double body, oignon type, polished. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass with baluster pillars, fusee with chain, very rare and unusual verge escapement with horizontal double escape whee, plain brass three-arm balances, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 50 mm.
Notes
Very few watches with this type of escapement are known to exist, they are all made by
watchmakers from La Neuveville in the Jura Bernois, even if they worked later in other
places. This watch was described by J. C. Sabrier in L'Horlogerie Ancienne, bulletin of
A.N.C.A.H.A. No. 19.
Previously in the collection of The Time Museum, this watch was sold by Sotheby's in
New York on 11 December 1986, lot 174 of the catalogue.