The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 97

Amiet à Besançon, No. 8647 made for Pope Leo XIII, 1887.Very fine and historically important 18 ct. multicoloured gold, keyless watch in original fitted silver, enamel and walnut box.

C. Four-body, solid, 'Louis XV', box-hinged, the centre of the rose gold back cover with the Besançon coat of arms surmounted by the Papal mitre and Saint Peter's keys, all in relief against a matted ground, the bezels in green gold with laurel leaf garlands in relief, gold hinged cuvette engraved with a dedication, hinged glazed bezel under the cuvette to view the movement. Elaborate walnut box with a dedication on the inner dome and silver armorials of the town and of Franche-Comté. D. White eamel, Roman chapters, outer gold paillon minute divisions with Arabic five-minute numerals, subsidiary sunk seconds with matching paillon divisions. Gold 'Louis XV' hands. M. 18''', very high quality, nickel, decorated with damascening pattern, bar calibre, 18 jewels, the uppermost ones in gold châtons, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold and platinum mean screws, blued-steel Breguet balance spring, wolf-teeth winding wheels, hands pin-set.Signed on the movement, the case stamped GF in lozenge.Diam. 56 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 218-219.