Bovet, London, Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1830. Fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, centre seconds watch with special escapement. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 15th October 1994

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994

LOT 517

Bovet, London, Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1830. Fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, centre seconds watch with special escapement.

CHF 43,000 - 48,000

C. Double body, the fixed bezel with champleve enamelled scarlet demi-flower patterns and foliage on a powder blue ground, the back panel finely enamelled with a butterfly gathering pollen on camelia flowers over a green ground (slightly restored). Hinged gold engraved and engine-turned cuvette. D. White enamel with Roman numerals. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. Blued and polished steel, "Chinese" calibre with free standing barrel, single wheel duplex escapement with plain polished steel five-arm balance and flat balance spring. Signed on the movement. In good condition. Diam. 58 mm.

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Notes

Although Bovet, along with Ilbery, Juvet etc., specialised in enamel watches for the Chinese market, very few of the subjects depicted can be said to be of a truly Oriental nature. The back panel of this case, with camelia flowers and a particularly exotic butterfly, is one of the rare exceptions. Bovet is known to have worked in London for 3 years only circa 1830.