Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, The Grand Havana Room, Sep 20, 2006

LOT 129

?Convertible Flying Tourbillon" Glashütte Original, Glashütte in Sachsen, "Julius Assmann - Tourbillon 3", No. 7/25. Made in a limited edition of 25 examples circa 2003. Very fine and rare, convertible, skeletonized, 18K gold gentleman's pocket and wristwatch with visible one-minute flying tourbillon regulator in the style of Alfred Helwig, retrograde date, power-reserve indication and an 18K pink gold Glashütte Original buckle. Accompanied by a special, wooden fitted box and a certificate.

USD 40,000 - 60,000

EUR 30,000 - 47,000

Sold: USD 70,800

C. Four-body, solid, polished, ribbed bezel, triangular lugs, hinged back cover over transparent case back, sapphire crystals. D. 18K white gold, graduated ring dials for the hours and minutes at 6 and the flying tourbillon regulator with its subsidiary seconds hand at 12, sectors for the retrograde date and the up-and-down indication. Blued steel "alpha" hands. M. Cal. 53, skeletonized and hand-engraved, rhodium-plated, 37 jewels including 2 diamond end-stones, lateral lever escapement, Alfred Helwig's one-minute flying tourbillon regulator with polished steel cage and 3 equidistant arms, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Julius Assmann To celebrate the 175th birthday of one of Germany?s most significant watchmakers, Glashütte Original introduced the ?Julius Assmann 3 ?tourbillon watch in 2002. Born in Stettin on Oct. 2, 1827, young Julius learned watchmaking and then moved to Berlin, from where he journeyed to Glashütte in 1850 to perfect his craft. At the time, the industry in the small struggling town in Saxony?s Müglitz valley was just 5 years old and Assmann found employment with Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who had started the trade to improve the economical situation in the area. After 2 years, Julius founded his own business, the ?Julius Assmann Deutsche Präzisions- Taschenuhren Fabrik?, buying most of his supplies locally, while assembly and sales of key-wound pocket watches were done in his factory. Already in 1854, his young company exhibited in the German Trade and Industry exposition, winning a prestigious gold medal. The Prussian government asked him to start a watch industry in Silesia and Brandenburg, but Assmann declined, preferring to jointly start the ?Deutsche Uhrmacherschule? (German School of Watchmaking) in Glashütte in 1877, becoming its board?s chairman in 1885, a great honor for the businessman and master of his craft.