Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 14, 1990
LOT 305
Anonymous, (Fleurier, val de Travers) Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1840. Fine and extremely rare gilt silver and enamel pair of quarter repeating pearl set watches with independent sweep center seconds, with an enamelled key, in a later velvet lined fitted case.
CHF 70,000 - 90,000
Four body "Empire" cases with split pearl set bezels, borders, pendants and bows, reeded bands and very fine symetrical bunches of flowers painted in their natural colors on their enamel backs. Glazed cuvettes. White enamel dials with Roman numerals. Blued steel "cuiller" hands. Fine and unusual gilt brass 22"' double train movements,fully engraved in the manner of Guillaumin, 19 jewels, lateral lever escapements, polished steel three armed balances with blued steel weights, flat balance springs. Repeating on gongs by means of a slide on the band. In very good condition. Diam. 61 mm. Surviving pairs of watches made for the Chinese market are very rare, but up to now, none are known with a quarter repeating mechanism associated with an independent seconds train.
