A TRIBUTE TO PRECISION AND COMPLICATE...

Hotel Nogalhilton Geneve, Nov 11, 2001

LOT 12

Timekeeper with 4 ComplicationsTavernier à Paris, No. 579, circa 1770.Very fine and unusual 18K gold, double-face center-seconds astronomical watch with manual perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, equation and day-length tables with mnemonic year indications.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

USD 25,000 - 30,000

Sold: CHF 48,300

C. Two-body, "Louis XV", glazed on both sides, the bezel on the calendar side engraved with the length of days table, the other with equation table, pendant set with a large diamond. D. On the front, white enamel dial with radial Arabic chapters, outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic numerals. Gold "beetle and poker" hands. On the back, gilt silver calendar dial decorated with straight-line pattern, the center with days of the week chapter, on top an aperture for the phases and age of the mon, at 2 o'clock aperture for the year with indications until 9999, at 4 o'clock aperture for months with the number of corresponding days, at 6 o'clock regulating sector, at 8 o'clock aperture for days of the month, at 9 o'clock division of the day into eight parts, with the pointer to indicate when the calendar must be reset. M. 35 mm ø, hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement, brass escape wheel, plain three-arm steel balance, flat balance sping, continental cock.Signed on the edge of the dial plate and the dial.Diam. 45 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

Tavernier Jean-Pierre (d. aft. 1804)Father of Louis and Pierre-Benjamin. Received as Master on 1 March 1746, established rue de Bussy. He was particularly renowned for his watches, but also sold clocks, using cases by B. Lieutaud and F. Rémond. Among his clients was the duc de Caylus. After Jean-Pierre's death, his activity was continued by his son Louis."Les Ouvriers du Temps", by Jean-Dominique Augarde, Antiquorum Editions, 1996.The indications for the month and its duration, the date, the days of the week, and the four divisions of the day all progress mechanically. The year must be changed manually. The calendar mechanism is run directly from the fusee, the main advantage of which is that the power used for driving it is almost insignificant. A special clutch mechanism is required on the fusee to make sure that the calendar is not affected by the winding, which Tavernier designed very cleverly. He also very cleverly slved the problem of resetting. The small dial at 10 o'clock serves that purpose.