The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 152

Beautiful LadiesBovet, Fleurier, Nos. 484/11 and 484/12, circa 1860.Fine and rare pair of small gilded silver, enamel, pearl-set, centre seconds lady's watches in original Morocco fitted box, made for the Chinese market.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

USD 3,000 - 4,000

Sold: CHF 18,400

C. Four-body, 'Empire', back cover decorated with a finely painted portrait of a lady in a feathered hat and blue dress, with earrings and necklace made of gold paillons. The portrait is surrounded by scarlet translucent enamel over engine-turning, bezels, pendant and bow set with half pearls, spring-loaded, gilded cuvette centred with Bovet signature in Chinese characters. D. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute ring and fifteen minute Arabic numerals. Blued-steel 'spade' hands. M. 32.1 mo, c, 16 jewels, free-standing barrel, straight line lever escapement, plain three-arm steel balance with horn-shaped counter-weights, blued-steel flat balance spring, index regulator.Signed on the movements, and in Chinese characters on the cuvettes.Diam. 39 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 342-343.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Although most of the watches and snuffboxes with automata destined for the Chinese market were made in pairs, the majority of them were separated. It is very rare to find a pair still together.Horn-shaped counterweights on the balance, such as those found in these movements, served no chronometrical function, but were rather intended to protect the owner against the evil eye.BovetOne of the most successful Swiss horological dynasties, established by four brothers from Fleurier. Three of the brothers, Edouard, Frédéric, and Alphonse, first set up a business in London in 1815, making watches for the domestic market. In 1818 Edouard was hired by the maison Magniac to be a watchmaker for them in Canton. In 1822, having realized the great possibilities of the Chinese market, the Bovets established their own company in China, Edouard remaining in Canton, Frédéric (born 1786) ad Alphonse (1788-1850) working out of London, and Gustave (1790-1849) out of their home town, Fleurier. The youngest Bovet brother, Charles-Henri (born 1802), later joined the company as well. Affairs prospered, the name 'Bovet' becoming almost synonymous with the word 'watch' for the Chinese. Among the signatures on these watches, one often finds the name Bovet translated into Chinese, as well as the name 'Tevob' ('Bovet' spelled backwards). In 1830 Edouard left China, returning to Fleurier withis Chinese son Edouard-Georges, after having become a very rich man in the Orient.Literature: 'La montre Chinoise', Alfred Chapuis.