Important Watches

Geneva, Mar 20, 2010

LOT 85

Louis Audemars King Umberto I of Italy Presentation Watch Louis Audemars, Brassus & Geneve, No. 13350. Made for Umberto I, King of Italy, retailed by C. Morel Jeune, 65, Rue de Rome, à Marseille, circa 1890. Very fine and rare, 18K rose gold and enamel, diamond set, minute-repeating, hunting cased, keyless Royal presentation pocket watch.

CHF 17,000 - 25,000

USD 16,000 - 23,000 / EUR 12,000 - 17,000

Sold: CHF 40,800

C. Four body, bassine et filets, polished, faceted band, the hinged and sprung front cover with the champlevé enameled diamond-set coat of arms of Umberto I, King of Italy. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel spade hands. M. 19"', gilt brass, 25 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs with two polished steel hammers, activated by a slide in the band. Movement and case signed, cuvette signed by the retailer. Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Such watches were usually bought by sovereigns in order to be presented to important visitors or in recognition of loyalty. Other watches with the same provenance were sold by Antiquorum in Geneva on October 14, 1990: one made by Vacheron & Constantin, lot 42, the other by Patek Philippe, lot 308. Another, sold in Geneva on October 19, 1997, was made by Patek Philippe, lot 522.
King Umberto I (1844-1900) Was born on March 14, 1844, in Turin (Piedmont), Kingdom of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy and King of Italy. His marriage to his cousin Margherita Teresa Giovanna, Princess of Savoy, on April 22, 1868, and the birth of their son, the future Vittorio Emanuele III, on November 11, 1869, also gained him public sympathy in spite of prevailing anti-monarchist sentiment. Umberto I led his country out of its isolation and into the Triple Alliance with Austria and Germany. He supported nationalistic and imperialistic policies that led to disaster for Italy and helped create the atmosphere in which he was assassinated in Monza by an anarchist on July 29, 1900.