Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 25, 1993

LOT 31

Unsigned, English, made by Sigismund Rentzch, circa 1820. Extremely rare and unusual 18 ct. gold, quarter repeating, keyless hand setting watch with special winding and special repeating device.

CHF 12,000 - 15,000

C. Three piece, massive, forme collier, with, reeded band, revolving bezel and engine-turned back. D. Gold, fully engraved with scrolls of foliage and Roman numerals. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. GiIt brass, unusual Lepine type caliber with going barrel, duplex escapement with gilt brass 'scape wheel, cut bimetallic balance flat balance spring and ruby end-stone. The barrel is set with a wheel, gearing with another fixed on the center of the back in such a way the watch can be wound by revolving the back. Repeating the hours on turning the bezel in one direction and the quarters on turning it back, it is first necessary to press the pushpiece in the band to unlock the bezel. Diam. 40 mm.


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Notes

A watch, based on the same principle, signed: " Rentzch, Invenit et Fecit, London", was sold in this room on 18 October 1992, lot No. 106. A similar watch, made by the same maker, from the Ilbert collection is kept in the British Museum. Rentzch's dates are given as 1813-1842, in 1827 he was working at 2, George Street, St. James Square, Watchmaker to the King and Royal Family, his aptly was described by Britten as "a clever mechanician". The watch now offered for sale was described by T.P. Camerer Cuss in Antiquarian Horology, December 1966, pages 164 to 168.