Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Oct 04, 2009

LOT 275

The Windmill and Water Wheel Automaton Watch Attributed to Bautte & Moynier, Geneva, No. 6075. Made circa 1830. Very fine and extremely rare, small, 18K gold and painted on enamel, center-seconds pocket watch with automaton windmill and water-wheel.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

USD 19,000 - 28,000 / EUR 13,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 22,800

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, reeded bezel and bow, flower and shell cast band and pendant, engine-turned sprung back with central engraved initials, bolt at 11 for activating the automaton. Hinged gold cuvette with winding and hand-setting apertures. D. Small offset matte gold with applied polished gold radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute divisions, center with chased foliate rosette. Blued steel lozenge hands. Finely painted on enamel dial surround decorated with an alpine mountain scene with a windmill, the sails turning, an automaton water wheel and waterfall to the side with applied chased varicolored gold foliage. M. 38 mm., matte gilt, standing barrel for the going train, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, fixed barrel for the automaton mechanism. Case with punch marks BM & BC, cuvette and case numbered. Diam. 45 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-11

Good

Slightly worn
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-25-01

Good

Chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

Bautte & Moynier Successors of the renowned Genevan firm which was founded by Jean-François Bautte, and which was known successively by the names of Moulinié & Bautte, Moulinié, Bautte et Cie, Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier, Bautte, Jean-François Bautte & Cie, Rossel, Bautte & Cie, J. Rossel et Fils, Felipe Hecht, and Juan Hecht. The Bautte & Moynier firm was founded in 1826 by Jean-François Bautte and Jean-Gabriel Moynier.