Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong - Kong, Oct 09, 2010

LOT 164

Gubelin Marble & Silver Turtle Mystery Clock E. Gübelin, Lucerne, No. 6325. Made circa 1925. Very fine and extremely rare, yellow marble, gilt-brass, silver and enamel, mystery clock with magnetic floating turtle.

HKD 53,000 - 70,000

USD 6,800 - 9,000 / EUR 5,300 - 7,000

Sold: HKD 162,500

C. Octagonal moulded yellow marble base with gilt-brass mounts, solid silver turtle pool to be filled with water, decorated with translucent lilac-colored enamel over sunray guilloche. D. Lilac-coloured translucent guilloche enamel with applied silver-gilt radial Roman numerals, inner off-white enamel minute divisions, outer off-white enamel border. Gilt-painted turtle with concealed iron implant, floats and indicates the time without any apparent connection to the movement, the time set by an arbor concealed at the side. M. 9.3 cm. square, gilt brass plates, four pillars, going barrel, large circular magnet mounted on a four-arm brass wheel on the hour wheel, straight-line lever escapement on a vertically mounted platform, 13 jewels, monometallic balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator. Movement signed. Dim. 27 x 13 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-24

Good

Slightly chipped
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Gübelin The firm of Gübelin was founded in Lucerne, Switzerland by Mauritz Breitschmid on October 4, 1854. Under the direction of his son-in-law Jakob Eduard Gübelin the company grew and moved to larger premises at Schweizer Hofquai in 1903. Following the appointment of Jakob's son Eduard Gübelin as director in 1925, Gübelin began to make unusually high quality clocks in small numbers. The present clock is one of the highest grade "Turtle" mystery clocks that Gübelin made. Another example, with black marble base, was sold in Sotheby's, Masterpieces from the Time Museum sale on October 13, 2004, lot 613.