Contemporary, Limited Edition, Modern...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Apr 25, 2001

LOT 341

Agassiz Watch Co, Swiss, No 226967. Produced circa 1920.Very fine and rare, sterling silver, keyless watch with power reserve indicator, center-seconds, stop feature and early self-compensating balance spring.

USD 2,200 - 2,600

C. three-body, "bassine", polished, silver bolt on band at 3 o'clock for stop/start. D. silvered, Arabic numerals with outer minute ring, outermost seconds ring with five-minute Arabic markers, 24-hour winding indicator sector below 12 o'clock. Blued steel "Feuille" hands. M. 43 mm., nickel, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, mono-metallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, adjusted to temperature, gold train, cam-type micrometric regulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 50 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3

Good

Notes

About 1910, Dr. Charles Edouard Guillaume invented a steel-nickel alloy whose elasticity remained unaffected by temperature changes. The new alloy, named Elinvar, revolutionized watches of the twentieth century and was patented simultaneously in Switzerland and England on Feb. 20, 1911 (Swiss patent 54876, English patents 3846 and 3847). The present lot incorporates Guillaume's invention, while featuring characteristics of the previous era such as temperature and mean screws on the balance. Thealance, roller table, balance spring and the pallet fork are made of non-magnetic alloys in an apparent attempt to make the watch non-magnetic.This watch, which was made for the American market, was no doubt intended to compete with the high-quality American railroad watches.