Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 27, 2011

LOT 428

Ditisheim ? Large Silver Deck Watch Paul Ditisheim, Solvil, Geneva, "Chronomètre de Bord", No. 703453. Made circa 1926. Extremely fine, impressive and rare, silver, keyless deck watch with 52-hour power-reserve indicator and Guillaume balance.

CHF 12,000 - 18,000

USD 12,000 - 18,000 / EUR 9,000 - 14,000

Sold: CHF 22,500

C. Three-body, massive, ?Empire?, polished, fluted band and edges of the bezels, the back stamped with maker's trademark, silver detachable cuvette. D. Matte silver with champlevé radial Roman numerals and outer minute track, 52-hour up-and-down subsidiary dial, subsidiary seconds, engraved « Grand Prix Paris 1900 ». Blued steel spade hands. M. 55 mm (25'''), type 1, matte gilt, straight-line lever escapement, 21 sapphire jewels, some in screwed chatons, Anibal-brass Guillaume balance with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, Breguet balance spring with Phillips outer and inner terminal curves, going train jeweled to the center with endstones on the entire escapement, escape wheel in separate jeweled plate for easy removal. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 65 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Another identical watch from this series (No. 703446) was sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, October 11, 2003, lot 222.
Among Ditisheim deck watches, the ones with this type of movement, sometimes called type 1, are the most impressive. They won Ditisheim more Observatory prizes than any others. Paul Ditisheim was one of the most esteemed Swiss horologists of the first half of the 20th century. He designed and patented his own compensation balance (Swiss patent No. 98234), developed a new oil with remarkable stability, and was known for his superior skills in adjusting, skills that won him many prizes and honors. Solvil was founded in early 1920 to exploit Ditisheim's invention, and produce the highest possible timekeepers. The present watch is an excellent example of the early Solvil production.