Important Watches, Wristwatches, Cloc...

Basel April 21, 1990, Apr 21, 1990

LOT 151

S. Smith & Son, Makers to the British and Indian Governments, 9 Strand, London, N° 1900-2, bearing the London Hall Marks for 1899-1900. Very rare and important 181K gold hunting cased keyless " grande and petite sonnerie" minute repeating clock watch with a minute tourbillon regulator.

CHF 250,000 - 300,000

Four body massive "pomme et bassine" polished case. Gold cuvette. Fine white enamel dial (Willis) with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "pear" hands. Rare gilt brass 19" three quarter plate double train movement made by Nicole Nielsen, with differential winding, 40 jewels in screwed settings, English lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, blued steel balance spring with a terminal curve, free sprung. The escapement is set in a three equidistant polished steel armed cage, revolving once per minute, driven by the minute wheel. Striking and repeating on gongs, the repeating mechanism released by means of a slide on the band. "Grande/Petite sonnerie" and Strike/silent selection levers on the bezel. Signed on the dial and the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 60 mm.


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Notes

This watch is described and illustrated in R. Meis: Das Tourbillon, pages 222-223. For other good examples of highly important watches by Nicole Nielsen, see lots N° 147 and 275.