The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 208

William Anthony, London, No. 1913 and 1914, circa 1800.Magnificent and extremely rare, large, oval, symmetrical pair of 18 ct. gold and enamel, eight-day going, pearl and diamond-set watches with special escapements, made for the Chinese market, and probably for the Imperial family.

C. Double-body, the backs of Imperial blue translucent enamel over engine-turning, with split pearl-set borders, the very fine applied diamond and pearl-set navette decoration centred with large diamonds, borders with azure champlevé enamel oval rims with geometrical patterns of opaque white and translucent red enamels. Split pearl-set bezels and pendants. Hinged gilt brass cuvettes mounted to the movement rings. D. White enamel, eccentric chapter ring set at the top with radial Roman chapters ad outer half-minute divisions, subsidiary seconds in the lower part. Gold 'arrow' hands. M. Oval, 44 x 55.6 mm, gilt brass bridge calibre, fully chased and engraved with scrolling foliage decoration, 9 jewels, free standing barrels, five wheel trains, ruby duplex escapements, plain polished steel curved five-arm balances, flat balance spring, diamond end-stones.Signed on the dial and cuvette.Dim. 95 x 57 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 286-287.