Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 616

?Subsidiary Split Seconds? C. F. Hancock, 38 & 39 Bruton Street, London, No.537. London Hallmarks for 1861-62. Very fine and rare small 18K gold and enamel half-huntingcased, keyless, pocket watch with unusual split-seconds on the subsidiary dial and Adolphe Nicole's keyless winding.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,500 - 5,500 / USD 5,700 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 9,440

C. Four body, massive, "bassine a fillet", polished, Applied gold chapter ring with blue enamel radial roman numerals and inner minute track around a glazed central aperture. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds with unusual split-seconds operated by a pusher in the band. Blued steel double ?spade? hands. M. 33mm, frosted and gilt, 3/4 plate, jeweled to the third wheel, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, mobile stud barer, flat, Alfred Nicole keyless winding on the back plate, split seconds mechanism under the dial. Dial and movement signed, case with master mark for James Walter Scott. Diam. 42mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched
Movement: 3-9*

Good

Scratched

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch employs a very unusual and rarely seen split-seconds mechanism that functions by pushing a button in the band which stops the second seconds hand. When the button is released the hand rejoins the constant seconds hand. In 1844 Adolphe Nicole, one of the founders of the Nicole Nielsen firm, took out patent no. 10348 for keyless winding and the first start/stop/return to zero chronograph. Cézar Racine