The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 38

A Sentimental JourneyGregson à Paris, circa 1790.Fine and unusual gilt metal and enamel form watch designed as a pear, with visible balance.

CHF 3,000 - 4,000

USD 2,000 - 2,500

Sold: CHF 5,290

C. Two-body, back painted on enamel representing a young flautist serenading a shepherdess, probably after an engraving after William Lawranson, and taken from 'A Sentimental Journey to France and Italy', part of 'The Seasons' by the poet James Thomson (1700-1748). The upper part of the case front has a painted rural scene of a house, a bridge and a boat on a river. D. White enamel chapter ring with Roman chapters, outer minute divisions separated by gold paillon ribbon, blue enamel centre withold paillon leaf decoration. Gold 'poker and arrow' hands. M. 56.5 mm o, hinged, pear-shaped, full plate brass, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with flat balance spring, pierced and engraved cock.Signed on the dial and movement.Dim. 67 x 48 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 392-393.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 4 - 13 - 18
Movement: 4 - 7 - 8*
Dial: 8 - 13 - 18 - 03

Notes

The watch was in all likelihood made by Jean Gregson. Of British origin, he was watchmaker to the King. Gregson must have been considered one of the best by his contemporaries, for he was chosen in 1786 to be a member of the commission studying the Royal Clock Manufactory. Only three other watchmakers were named to the commission: Breguet, Berthoud and Lepaute.Ring watchesWatchmakers have always been fascinated with the idea of fitting a watch into a ring. Only a few succeeded. In the early days, successful attempts ended up on a King's or a Prince's finger or that of a prelate. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art there survives a very early ring watch, dated about 1560 and signed I.W. In the Mantua archives there is a letter from James Widman to the Duke of Mantua concerning three ring watches, and quite possibly, one of them is the one in the Metropolitan Museum.In about 1650 Johan Ulrich Schmidt of Augsburg made a ring watch for the Elector Johann Friedrich. In 1764, the young John Arnold presented an amazing ring watch to King George III of England. It was a half quarter repeater, less than two centimeters in diameter and had 120 parts. The watch brought fame to Arnold and established him as a very talented watchmaker. The Emperor of Russia, for another such ring, offered Arnold to double what George III had paid, but Arnold refused. The present and te previous lots are in this category: beautifully executed, fitted with all-or-nothing repeating mechanism and a virgule escapement. Without a doubt was made for a wealthy patron by a very talented and experienced watchmaker.