Antiquorum Auctioneers since 1974

Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Grand Havana Room, New York, Sep 20, 2001

LOT 75

Gold RoskopfRoskopf Patent, Swiss, circa 1890.Fine and very unusual, 18K gold, keyless, hunting-cased pocket watch with a special escapement, made for the Indian market.

USD 3,500 - 4,500

C. four-body, "bassine et filets", the front cover with an applied gold horseman jumping a fence, surrounded by floral and foliate engraving, the back cover with an engraved horse's head against a foliate and floral background, fully engraved gold hinged cuvette. D. white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring with red five-minute Arabic markers. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 42 mm ø (18 1/2'''), nickeled, damascened in a rosette pattern, 12 jewels, lateral pin-pallet lever escapement, cut bimetalic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, pin-set.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 11 - 01

Notes

Georges-Frédéric Roskopf (1813-1889) dreamed of "providing the working classes with an accurate watch at a reasonable price". He succeeded splendidly and obtained a bronze medal at the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris. His watches sold for 20 francs. He employed a number of new ideas, among others one borrowed from Adrien Philippe of the Patek Philippe company, who invented the so-called "free" spring. Roskopf acquired a license and paid 25 centimes to Patek Philippe for each watch he employedwith a "free" mainspring. Roskopf patented his invention everywhere but in Switzerland and soon after 1868 a number of Swiss manufactures started making "Roskopf Patent watches". These watches, in gold cases, with compensation balance, Breguet balance-spring, and train jeweled up to the third wheel, are extremely rare.