Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 452

"Quantième Semi-Perpetuel for The Islamic Market" B. Haas Jeune, "Quantième Semi- Perpetuel, Mahometan Système Billeter". Made for the Islamic market, circa 1875. Very fine, rare and unusual, gilt brass, 8-day going, 4- glass mantel clock with hour and half-hour striking and "semi" perpetual calendar with indication for Islamic festivals.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,000 - 4,500 / USD 4,000 - 5,700

Sold: CHF 7,080

C. Gilt brass, stepped entablature with dentilled frieze, sides and doors with bevelled glass, two out-set fluted corinthian pillars with foliate bases, molded and stepped base with four molded block feet. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals in scroll cartouches, outer dot minute divisions, annular calendar dial below with scale for 30-days and outer scale with provision for the following Islamic festivals: Moharrem; Safar; Rebi-el-Aouel; Rebi-el-Akhor; Djemada -el-Aouel; Djemada-el-Akhor; Redjeb; Chaban; Ramadan; Choual; Dzou'l Kada; Dzou'l Kadja, the center exposing the mechanism with a further wheel calibrated 1-12, cast gilt brass anthemion bezels. Blued steel "spade and lozenge" hands. M. 10cm., gilt brass circular Paris-type, going barrels for both trains, Brocot escapement, spring suspension, crutch with micrometer beat adjustment, brass bob pendulum, outside countwheel striking on a bell, the striking train driving the calendar mechanism at each strike by three extra wheels mountedon the backplate and connected to the calendar mecahnism mounted on a rectangular plate below the movement. Dial signed. Dim. 38 x 22 x 14.5 cm. Property of a French Gentleman


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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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present clock is very unusual in having what is described as a "semi perpetual" calendar with automatic indications for the Islamic festivals. The mechanism is driven by the striking train and through a system of click wheels, there is a hand for the date moving every 24-hours and a hand for the Islamic festivals moving after the appropriate number of days has elapsed. This is an ingenious mechanism and must have been invented purely for clocks with the Islamic calendar dial. The clock is of generally high quality with a finely finished case, Brocot escapement and micrometer beat adjustment.
Haas - B. Jeune & Cie. (1870-circa 1885).
Paris, Genève, Besançon. One of the oldest manufactures of Switzerland, known for high quality watchmaking. Haas Neveux & Cie. succeeded to the firm B. Haas Jne, which was created in 1848. Haas Neveux & Cie. created the revolutionary extra-flat watch with winding mechanism. The firm sought to make their watches more elegant by making them flatter. At the 1896 Geneva Exhibition they showed the first extra-flat watch with a movement only two millimeters thick. While they devoted a great deal of attention to the decoration of their watches, in the form of pendants, bracelets, rings, etc., Haas Neveux & Cie. remained at the forefront of the making of high-precision chronometers, obtaining prizes at the Geneva Observatory competitions. Since its foundation, Haas Neveux & Cie. has won the highest prizes at international exhibitions.