A TRIBUTE TO PRECISION AND COMPLICATE...

Hotel Nogalhilton Geneve, Nov 11, 2001

LOT 4

Timekeeper with 1 ComplicationMoses and the Ten CommandmentsDebeaufre, London, circa 1720.Very fine 22K gold pair-cased half quarter-repeating and à tact watch.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

USD 3,100 - 4,400

Sold: CHF 13,800

C. Outer: two-body, the back very finely repoussé, depicting Moses holding the tablets of The Ten Commandments, pierced and repoussé bezels with flowers and scrolling. Inner: two-body, "bassine", deep back, band pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage, mask at six o'clock, polished back with small engraved rosette in the center, silver dust cap. D. Gold, champlevé enamel Roman hour chapter, arched outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers. Blued steel "beetle and poker" hands. M. 32,mm, gilt brass full plate with octagonal baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, blued steel flat balance spring, silver cock with streamers, pierced and engraved with two mythical creatures among scrolling decoration, straight cut foot, early all-or-nothing repeating system with both racks under the dial, repeating on bell or à tact by depressing the pendant.Signed on the dial, back plate and the dust cap, the inner case stamped "AG".Diam. 51 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Peter Debaufre (1675 Paris - c. 1730, London)In 1689 he settled in London, where he remained until at least 1722. He invented the double-wheel dead-beat verge escapement, and in 1704, along with his brother Jacob and Nicholas Fatio, he attempted to patent jeweling for watches, but met with fierce and unjust opposition on the part of the Clockmakers Company. Debaufre was a very celebrated maker; Isaac Newton carried one of his watches.