Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 13, 2012

LOT 362

FRIZON - GOLD CASED QUARTER REPEATING OIGNON WATCH - ONE OF ONLY FOUR KNOWN EXAMPLES IN GOLD Frizon à Paris. Made circa 1705. Very fine and exceptionally rare, gold-cased, Louis XIV oignon watch with quarter-repeating and gold dial, one of only four known examples in a gold case.

CHF 30,000 - 50,000

USD 33,000 - 55,000 / EUR 25,000 - 40,000

C. Two-body, ?oignon?, the back chased and engraved with foliate strapwork, dogs and masks, formal border with pierced sound frets, the bezel decorated with stylized foliage, square hinge. D. Gold with blue radial Roman numerals on white enamel cartouches, inner quarter-hour ring, outer engraved minute divisions and black Arabic fi ve-minute numerals on white enamel cartouches, chased center, winding aperture at 4 o?clock. Fine steel beetle and poker hands. M. 44 mm, matte gilt full plate, divided Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, click and pawl set-up, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, fl at balance spring, pierced and chased cock decorated with inhabited foliage and strapwork, Tompion-type regulator with silver scale disc, repeating with a single hammer on a bell in the back of the case activated by depressing the pendant. Movement signed, bell signed ?Bii? fl anked by leaves. Diam. 59 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-75-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Slightly restored soft enamel

HANDS Original

Notes

Any secular gold object surviving from the reign of Louis XIV is exceptionally rare, a watch, being in regular use particularly so. Wars, bankruptcy and greed down the centuries have ensured the destruction of almost all such watches, only four with original gold cases are known to survive today: the present watch, another by Delorme, Paris, sold Sotheby?s, Geneva, May 15th, 2011, lot 127, sold for 56,250 Swiss Francs and two others in the Patek Phiippe Museum, Geneva. The present watch is of large size and also retains the original gold and enamel dial with beautiful blue numerals. The hands are also very fi nely made.