Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 384

"Niello Minute Repeater" Swiss, No. 47697/4592. Made circa 1890. Fine and rare, minute-repeating, nielloed silver and yellow gold, hunting cased, keyless pocket watch with nielloed silver and yellow gold fob and locket.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", the front cover niello-decorated with a lion rampant holding a vacant armorial shield within foliage, yellow gold rims, the band with a geometric pattern, back cover niello-decorated with engraved scrolling foliage, gold rims, yellow gold hinges, slide, bezel, pendant and bow. Hinged silver cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Arabic numerals, outer gold and silver paillon pyramidal minute indexes, outer gold and silver paillon border and inner grapevine garland, subsidiary seconds. Gold "Louis XVI" hands. M. 43 mm., 19''', rhodium-plated, 35 jewels, some in screwed gold chatons, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Diam. 54 mm.