Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 20, 1991

LOT 458

Marcks & Co. Ltd.Bombay & Poona, No.1067, Swiss, made for His Royal Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mehoob Ali Khan, circa 1900. Magnificent 18 ct. gold, enamel, diamond and pearl-set hunting-cased minute-repeating 8 day keyless watch with chronograph and enamelled portrait by J. Graf,the case attributed to J. Ferrero.

CHF 120,000 - 150,000

Sold: CHF 149,250

C. Four body massive "demi-bassine carrure ronde", the bezels set with matched split pearls intersected by paired rose diamonds, the cover decorated in red and green translucent enamel inlaid with old cut diamonds in a floral pattern, the back with oval portrait of the Nizam, initialed "J.G" within a diamond frame. Gold cuvette. D. opalescent white enamel with gold paillon decoration (very slight partial surface hair crack, virtually invisible) blue Roman numerals, outer chronograph ring with gold Arabic minute numerals, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel "spade" hands. M. 20"', frosted and gilt, three-quarter plate, twin going barrels with differential winding, 34 jewels, counterpoised, adjustable, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, polished Breguet balance spring. Repeating on gongs with slide in the band, chronograph with visible work and push-piece in the band. Signed on the dial. Very fine condition. Diam. 56 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Notes

This watch is of outstanding quality throughout, with even the pearls surtrounding the bezels being perfectly matched. The movement,which is of eight day duration, is also of exceptional finish throughout,with the extensive jewelling being applied even to the differential winding wheel. It may be considered as an example of the highest quality of Swiss work destined for the Indian market. J.Ferrero, successor to J. L. Simonet et Cie., specialised in all forets of gold,enamel and jewel work,and particularly elaboratev boxes and watches for the Indian market.Often worked with the enameller J. Graf (see note to previous lot ).