The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 98

Charles Oudin, Paris, circa 1890.Very fine and rare, 18 ct. gold astronomical double-face, keyless, minute repeating, full calendar centre seconds lady's pendant watch.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

USD 9,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. Three-body, solid, polished, 'bassine et filets', glazed on both sides. D. Glass, gold Roman chapters on black cartouches, gold outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic numerals also on black ground. On the back, four subsidiary glass calendar dials : at the top phases and age of the moon, on the right side days of the month, at the bottom the month, and on the left the days of the week, all painted in gold on a black background. Aperture for slow and fast under the date. Gold hands. M.14 3/4''', gilt brass, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued-steel Breguet balance spring, repeats on two gongs by a slide in the band, hands pin-set.Signed on the dial.Diam. 38 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 218-219.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Oudin Charlespupil of Breguet and one of his best foremen, devised the equation of time to fit the 'Montres de souscription'. He was established in business on his own behalf in the Palais Royal, Galerie de Pierre from circa 1804 to 1825, and was succeeded by his son who transfered the firm to Galerie Montpensier 1830-1840 and subsequently took Detouche into partnership. A. Charpentier was successor to Oudin Fils, son of Charles, with the signature: ' Charles Oudin à Paris, Horloger de L.L. M.M., l'Empereurt l'Impératrice de Russie'. To accompagny the display at the 1862 Exhibition in London, Oudin-Charpentier produced a book entitled : 'Catalogue of Chief Exhibits by Oudin-Charpentier, principal clockmakers' to their Majesties The Queen and King of Spain and to the Imperial Navy'. Considering the quality of his work, it is surprising that so little is recorded about his life.Haas Lot Cie.Founded in 1848 by Benjamin Haas, later known as Haas Neveux Lot Cie., Haas is one of the oldest watch factories in Switzerland. The Haas signature has always been one of the most sought-after, due to the impeccable craftsmanship for which it stands.Among the most notable creations of the firm was the first ultra-thin watch, launched at the end of the last century. Based on a 2 mm-deep movement, this watch represented one of the industry's major innovations and completely revolutionised watch design. It led to the creation of exceptional wristwatches, fob watches, and jewellery watches. By blending technical and artistic prowess, Haas assured its reputation as a manufacturer of chronometers, chronographs, and highly complicated watches.In 1870, Haas developed a new type of keyless winding for hunting-cased watches, operated by opening and closing the cover.Numerous prizes and distinctions were awarded to the company in all the major watch centres of Europe and America. In 1914 as an example, Haas surpassed all the other watch manufactures in the competitions for chronometer precision held by the Geneva Observatory. Their score of 879 remains unbeaten to this day.Haas' growing reputation in the Americas lead to the opening of a shop on New York's Fifth Avenue, followed by Paris, Cannes, Besançon, and Geneva. At the same time, Haas was one of the first to develop astronomical watches especially for their Oriental clientele.Haas is known today for its classic and recognisable design; as well as for the same attention to detail that has maintained it as one of the world's premier watchmakers since 1848.Over the past century and a half, the signatures used by the company has varied. The following are the most significant: