Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks
Hotel Furama Kempinski, May 24, 1992
LOT 222
Jonathan Puller, London, circa 1685. Very rare and fine 22ct. gold pair-cased watch.
HKD 600,000 - 700,000
CHF 125,000 - 140,000
Sold: HKD 575,000
C. Outer: Two-body of finely worked gold wire filigree floral patterns enhanced with small gold studs. Inner: Two-body, polished. D. Gold champleve with Roman and Arabic hour and minute numerals. Arrow pattern blued-steel hands. M. Full-plate gilt brass with pierced tulip pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain three arm-regulator. Signed on the movement. In excellent condition. Diam. 48 mm.
Notes
Provenance: Formerly in the Sternberger Collection,
subsequently in the Courtney Ilbert Collection and sold
by Sotheby's, London, 20th October 1963, Lot 70.
Exhibited: The Heritage Exhibition, London, 1952, cat.
no. 277.
International Art Treasures Exhibition, London, 1962,
cat. no. 402, p.50.
Jonathan Puller, London, born circa 1662, died circa
1707. Apprenticed in August 1676 to Nicholas Coxeter
and Iater to John Miller. Assistant to the Court of the
Clockmakers Company in 1701.
English watches in filigree cases are particularly rare,
and this example is of much larger diameter than usual
regardless of origin. It is also an early use of the balance
spring, and it is notable that the english were generally
quicker to apply a minute hand to such watches than
their counterparts on the continent.