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Hotel Nogalhilton Geneve, Nov 11, 2001

LOT 116

Timekeeper with 8 ComplicationsLattés, Gardiol & Co, Geneva and Cairo, circa 1880, made for the Middle Eastern market.Very fine and important 18K gold, silver and niello, hunting-cased, double-face, keyless astronomical watch with moon phases, triple calendar, and regulator scale on the dial.

CHF 9,000 - 12,000

USD 5,500 - 6,500

C. Three-body, "bassine et filets", solid, concave bezels, covers unusually decorated with small gold lozenges with a quadruple leaf pattern alternating with silver ones with trefoil leaves, both within niello, both covers with applied gold crowns surmounting texts in Persian, signifying "King" on one side and "Mohammed Toussoun" on the other. D. On one side: white enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary regulating dial below XII o'clock, three small apertures for days, dateand months. On reverse: matte silver with Islamic numerals and outer minute divisions, the center with applied gold floral and foliate decoration, subsidiary sunk seconds also with Islamic numerals, four apertures for days, date, month in Islamic characters, and moon phases. Both sides with blued steel "spade" hands. M. 43 mm (19'''), gilt brass, 15 jewels, straight line "moustache" lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel flat balance spring, wolf-tooth winding wheels.Signed on the enamel dial, the silver one signed "Lattès Gardiol" in Persian.Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

LattèsThe Lattès brothers were horological merchants active about 1860-1880, who specialized in complicated watches, in particular for export for the Middle East. They were partners with an an otherwise unknown Monsieur Gardiol. A certain J. Lattès is recorded as being established in Geneva and Cairo toward the end of the 19th century.Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.