Important Collectors’ Wristwatches,an...

Hong Kong, Hotel Victoria Hong Kong, Jun 10, 1993

LOT 222

Hans Rossbach, Copenhagen, circa 1660. Extremely fine and rare, small, 18 ct. gold and enamel, pre-balance spring watch.

HKD 165,000 - 200,000

CHF 30,000 - 35,000

Sold: HKD 178,250

C. Double body, bassine with split bezel, fully covered with overlaid gold enamelled flowers, loose-ring pendant. D. Enamel, the white chapter ring with Roman numerals, dark green center (latterly specially made). Blued steel single hand. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned baluster pillars, three wheel train, fusee with gut-line, verge escapement with balance wheel foliot, irregular oval florally pierced and engraved gilt brass cock. Worm-and-wheel set-up with blued steel bracket. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 26 mm.


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Notes

Extremely rare form of case decoration with an inner gold skin overlaid with an embrossed and pierced cage work, decorated with flowers enamelled in high relief, against a translucent green ground. A few example of watches decorated with this technic are still in existence, but this appears to be the smallest. Rossbach or Rosbach, Hans used to work in Hamburg before to settle in Copenhagen.