Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 27, 2011

LOT 409

Bahne Bonniksen 34-Minute Karrusel Bahne Bonniksen, retailed by Fattorini & Sons, Bradford (West Yorkshire, England),"Patent Karrusel", N° 66319. The case with Chester hallmarks for 1895-6. Very fine and extremely rare, very early, large, 18K yellow gold, keyless pocket watch with center seconds and Bonniksen?s patented 34-minute karrusel regulator with free-sprung balance.

CHF 8,000 - 12,000

USD 8,000 - 12,000 / EUR 6,000 - 9,000

Sold: CHF 11,000

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", by Fattorini & Sons, mastermark (F&S), polished, the back cover with engraved foliate monogram. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Two-piece, white enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute and fifths of a second divisions. Gold poire hands. M. 46 mm (20'''), gilt, half-plate, ring-turned pillars, spring barrel, jewelled to the center, some in screwed gold chatons, lateral lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance with winged arms, gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring with overcoil, whole on Bonniksen 34-minute karrusel. Dial and movement signed by the retailer, Bonniksen patent mark on the pillar plate. Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

With a rotation of 34 minutes, this watch is one of the very rare variants of the standard Bonniksen 52 1/2 ? minute karrusel patented in 1893. It is therefore also an extremely early example of the karrusel with hallmarks for 1895 on the case. The 34-minute karrusel is one of the three rarest karrusel watches, the other two variants having rotation speeds of 12 and 6 minutes. The real success of Bonniksen?s karrusel lay in the fact that it was an amazing timekeeper. This is due to the relatively slow rotation of the platform as opposed to the usual one-minute rotation of the tourbillon.The karrusel enjoyed enormous success at the Kew observatory trials. For a full history of the karrusel watch see: Antiquorum Vox Magazine, Spring 2008, ?Bahne Bonniksen?s Karrusel Watches?, by Richard Chadwick