Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2008

LOT 124

Grande & Petite Sonnerie Clockwatch - Bulletin de l'Observatoire Swiss, retailed by Hauser Zivy & Cie., Mexico-Paris, "La Esmeralda", No 6874. Made circa 1900. Very fine and extremely rare, large 18K yellow gold, trip minute-repeating, two-train, grande and petite sonnerie keyless chronometer clockwatch, Bulletin de l'Observatoire obtained at the Observatory of Neuchatel in 1902. Accompanied by the Bulletin de Marche, original red leather fitted case with two spare glasses and an extra three-piece enamel dial.

HKD 230,000 - 270,000

USD 30,000 - 35,000 / EUR 18,000 - 22,000

Sold: HKD 336,000

C. Four-body "demi-bassine et filets carrure ronde", polished with engine-turned back. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with the technical and retail details highlighted with blue, white and black enamel. D. White enamel, three-piece with narrow radial Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds. Black steel pear hands. M. 44 mm., 19???, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, twin barrels with differential tandem winding, 36 jewels, three in screwed chatons, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring with overcoil and swan-neck micrometer regulator, striking and repeating on gongs by means of a trip slide on the band, sonnerie/silence and petite sonnerie/grande sonnerie selection levers under the bezel. Dial and cuvette signed for the retailer. Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Any complication such as a striking train affects the timekeeping of a watch meaning that watches with striking, repeating or chronographs were not usually submitted for observatory trial, certainly a clockwatch would not normally be considered to be a precision watch. However, this watch was awarded a certificate from the Observatory of Neuchâtel and as such is extremely rare.