Important Collectors' Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Mar 16, 2008

LOT 241

Unique and Ultra-Complicated Wristwatch Gérald Genta, Geneva, "Grande Sonnerie", No. 1, Ref. G0025.7. Made in 1994, part of a series of only four examples: one in yellow gold (this lot), one in pink gold, one in white gold and one in platinum. Exceptionally fine and equally important, self-winding double-train, water-resistant gentleman's yellow gold wristwatch with Westminster chime, Grande et Petite Sonnerie and silent display, four gongs and four hammers, minute-repeating, perpetual calendar, leap year indication, a second 24-hour time zone, 48-hour power reserve indicator for the going and striking trains, with one-minute tourbillon regulator in fully engraved movement, and a yellow gold Gérald Genta deployant clasp.

C. Two-body, truncated cone-shaped, stepped octagonal, glazed back with sapphire crystal secured by bolts, "Vendôme" lugs with pink gold screwed bars, Genta winding-crown at 3, Grande et Petite Sonnerie at 7, repeater at 9, silent/striking at 11, pushbuttons on the band for adjusting the retrograde calendar and 24-hour indications. D. Mother-of-pearl dials, tritium dot indexes, four subsidiary sectors in Arabic for silence-chimes at 10, going-train up-and-down indication at 2, 48- hour power-reserve indication at 4, Grande et Petite Sonnerie indicator at 8, four subsidiary dials, second 24-hour time zone under at 12, month with leap year at 3, date at 6 and day at 9. Luminous yellow gold "sword" hands, gold and red hand for the subsidiary indication. M. Cal. 31.5 mm. (14'''), engraved with grape motifs and gilded, stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, 57 jewels, three-arm polished steel tourbillon carriage, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance with screws, self-compensating flat balance spring, pierced and engraved rotor, winding-going train in one direction and striking-train in the other, tandem winding. Signed on dial, case and movement. Diam. 39 mm., thickness 15 mm.