Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 72

?Experimental Self-Winding? Léon Hatot, Paris, (ATO). Made in the 1920s. A fascinating collection of early experimental self-winding watch movements and parts, and pedometer. Accompanied by the original patent.

A rectangular lady?s wristwatch with self-winding movement using a sliding rectangular weight; a gentleman?s wristwatch with 360 degree rotor and hand-setting slide on the band; a gentleman?s gold wristwatch with rotor on two running wheels; a movement with two opposing buffered rotors; a watch with semi-circular weight mounted at right angles and moving in a sideways motion; a lady?s Rolls-type self-winding wristwatch; a pocket pedometer with large elliptical weight; various unfinished rotors and bearings. During the 1920s, Leon Hatot was, along with other watchmakers (including Rolex), competing to perfect a reliable self-winding wristwatch movement. This he achieved with the invention of the ?ROLLS? self-winding watch of 1929. In this movement, the winding is achieved by the motion of an arm sliding inside the case guided by balls between two runners. The present lot includes movements that show the experiments of Hatot with the self-winding movement leading to the final ROLLS version. Some of these movements are ingenious and unique showing real insight and the technical brilliance of Hatot. In good condition Property of a French Gentleman