Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 437

Grande Sonnerie Pendule Portative IAL, Swiss, Neuchatel. Made circa 1780. Very fine and extremely rare, capucine-type, gilt brass, 8-day going, grande and petite sonnerie striking clock with pull quarter-repeating, calendar and pull-wind alarm.

C. Rectangular, gilt brass, the front with a flowerhead paterae in each corner, apertures for the winding, glazed side doors and back door, four turned finials, glazed port in the top to view the escapement, raised on four turned feet. D. White enamel, convex, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, inner date numerals, white enamel strike selection dial below. Steel hands. M. 16 x 12.5 cm., gilt brass rectangular plates, large spring barrels for both trains, cylinder escapement on a platform, three arm brass balance, flat balance spring, index regulator through the front of the case, the scale engraved on the top of the case, striking and repeating the hours and quarters with three vertically driven hammers in the typical Neuchatel manner on a tier of three stacked bells on top of the case, pull repeat pulley and strikework on the backplate, grande sonnerie/trois quarts & silence selection nut below the dial. Movement punched IAL within a rectangle. Dim. 34 x 13.5 x 9.5 cm.