Important Collectors’ Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Oct 14, 2007

LOT 162

?Independent Dead Seconds, Special Acid-Etched Dial? Robert Brandt & Compe, Geneve, No. 1. Made circa 1825. Very fine and very rare, 18K gold pocket watch with independent dead-center seconds and special acid-etched enamel dial.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,000 - 4,300 / USD 4,200 - 5,800

Sold: CHF 7,670

C. Four-body, ?Empire?, engine-turned, the back cover with vacant cartouche, bolt at 6 o?clock to stop the seconds. Hinged gilt metal cuvette. D. White enamel, acid-etched with matte ground, black painted Breguet numerals on circular reserves, outer minute divisions, the center with signature on an etched ground visible in a raking light. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 50 mm., frosted gilt, standing barrels for the going and seconds trains, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, the top pivot with pare-chute, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the index regulator, the escapement and third wheel jeweled. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

This sophisticated and high quality watch adopts many influences from Breguet watches: the jeweled cylinder escapement with parechute suspension, the numerals and hands and the simple and stylish design. Of particular interest and a highly unusual feature is that the dial has been acid-etched leaving the signature, numerals and decoration in relief so that the signature is not immediately visible to the viewer unless the watch is held at an oblique angle.

Robert Brandt & Compe
Working in Geneva and La Chaux-de-Fonds in the first half of the 19th century, they specialized in slim and unusual watches, many with bagnolet caliber movements.