Important Watches

Geneva, Mar 20, 2010

LOT 92

Musical trophy Swiss, No. 4220. Made for the Eastern market, circa 1840. Very fine and rare, thin, quarter-repeating, 18K gold and painted on enamel pocket watch with English-type ruby cylinder escapement.

CHF 8,000 - 12,000

USD 7,500 - 11,000 / EUR 5,500 - 8,000

Sold: CHF 15,600

C. Four-body, forme collier, the back cover decorated with a painted on enamel musical and floral trophy on a pale blue ground, serpentine translucent red enamel border, outer green and red enamel reserve with gold foliage and six circular flower roundels, bezel with eccentric glazed aperture and decorated to match, shell and flower band. Hinged gold cuvette with technical details in champleve enamel, apertures for winding and hand-setting. D. Silver with radial black Roman numerals on a moire chapter ring, outer minute divisions, the center engraved with a harbour view within a scroll border. Gold Breguet hands. M. 43 mm., matte gilt, 8 jewels, English-type ruby cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs with two polished steel hammers activated by a pull-and-twist piston in the pendant. The reverse of the dial punched Dx & F. Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch uses what is known as the "English-type" ruby cylinder. To reduce the friction, the English makers, who were very skilled in the art of jeweling, made the cylinder half-section ruby. The ruby was fitted into a steel frame ? this form of cylinder escapement was first used by Breguet, who brought the idea to France; it is distinct from the more familiar "overhanging" ruby cylinder.