Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 485

Gme Hoff & Fils, (Chaux-de-Fonds). Made for the Islamic market, circa 1890. Very fine, quarter-repeating, keyless, 18K rose gold pocket watch with automaton jacks.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", polished, the back engraved with twin vacant cartouches within a foliate engraved border. Hinged gold cuvette with engraved foliate border and the technical details. D. Matte silver with painted Islamic numerals separated by gold applied flowers, outer raised minute track, subsidiary seconds, the center with two gold automaton cherubs appearing to strike the hours and quarters on two bells. Blued steel spade hands. M. Cal. 42 mm (19???), rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 29 jewels, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Cuvette signed. Diam. 53 mm.