Important Watches, Collector's Wrist...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2001

LOT 491

Charman & Co., London, No. 9053, made for the Chinese market, circa 1820.Fine large 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set watch with a special escapement.

C. Three-body, ?Empire? with fixed cuvette, the back enamel panel painted with a fine composition of flowers on a red ground over engine-turning, the border decorated in champlevé enamel, engine-turned band, split-pearl set bezels pendant and bow. Spring-loaded back (with two springs) opened by depressing the pushpiece in the pendant. D. Off-white enamel with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds. Gold ?spade? hands. M. 50 mm, hinged, full-plate, fire-gilded, cylindrical pillars, ruby cylinder escaement driven by a going barrel, gilt brass four-arm balance, blued steel balance spring, the balance and the steel escape wheel jeweled, both with ruby endstones, gilded cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage.Signed on the back plate and numbered on the dial.Diam. 62 mm.