Contemporary, Limited Edition, Modern...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Apr 25, 2001

LOT 83

Grogan Co., Philadelphia, Swiss, No. 140171, case by Verger, Paris. Produced circa 1930.Very fine, and rare 18K gold and platinum, keyless "Bras-en-l'air" watch.

USD 11,000 - 14,000

C. three-body, polished, platinum bezels and bow, push-button at 10 o'clock. D. matte silver with the applied gold automaton of a Chinese monk, pointing to the hours and minutes with his hands on two sectors by depressing the pendant. M. 36.5 mm., nickel, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring, stamped twice with the Geneva Quality Hallmark.Signed by the retailer on the dial, by Verger on the case, case stamped with French gold/platinum hallmarks.Diam. 44 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3 - 5

Notes

With its gold and platinum case, this watch is a very fine example of the so-called "Bras en l'air" watch, featuring one of the most original ways to display the time. Originating at the end of the eighteenth century, they enjoyed a successful revival during the Art Deco period thanks to Ferdinand Verger, who produced them for the best jewelers. Grogan was a prominent Philadelphia jeweler. He retailed some of the most unusual watches of his time, among them rare Patek Philippe watches such as thonly known early jump-hour rectangular wristwatch.An archival photograph of a very similar watch is published in Audemars Piguet, by Gisbert L. Brunner, Christian Pfeiffer-Belli and Martin K. Wehrli, Le Brassus, 1993, p. 98.