The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 223

Romilly, à Paris, circa 1775.Fine and extremely rare 20 ct. gold and 'Vernis Martin' watch.

CHF 8,000 - 10,000

USD 5,000 - 6,000

C. Two-body, 'bassine fermée', the front with a portrait of a knight in armour wearing a green sash, a red curtain and a classical column behind him, the insides with a portraits of ladies in period dress, the back cover with a portrait of prince or king wearing ermine over armour and a coronet on his head. D. White enamel, radial Roman chapters, outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic numerals. Gold 'heart' hands. M. 31.2 mm o, hinged, gilt brass full-plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chan, verge escapement, plain three-arm steel balance, blued-steel balance spring, continental cock pierced and engraved with four scrolls.Signed on the edge of the dial plate and on the movement.Diam. 38 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 152-153


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 19
Movement: 18 - 26 - 13*
Dial: 2 - 28 - 02

Notes

Romilly Jean (1714-1796)was an eminent watchmaker who came from Geneva and settled in Paris, becoming the Technical Director of the Royal Clock Manufactory from 1789-90. He perfected a double virgule escapement, and in 1758 presented a year going watch to the 'Academie Royale des Sciences'. He was an associate member of the Salon de la Correspondence, and as a friend of Jean-Jacques Rousseau was in contact with the Parisian intelligentsia.'Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois', by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.vernis MartinIn the 18th century, the four Martin brothers, Guillaume, called 'Martin l'ainé' (d. 1749), Etienne Simon (d. 1770), Julien, called 'Martin le Jeune' (d.1772), and Robert (1706 - 1775), seeking to initiate the lacquers of China and Japan, created a new type of varnish made from copal resin. From there one, the term 'vernis Martin' was used to designate all types of French lacquer and varnish applied to furniture and decorative objects.