Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Oct 19, 2012

LOT 79

FRENCH GOLDSMITH FRANÇOIS- DÉSIRÉ FROMENT-MEURICE YELLOW GOLD AND SILVER French, the case, dial and fob made by François-Désiré Froment-Meurice, the movement Swiss. Made circa 1850. Very fine and extremely rare, yellow gold, electrotype silver, niello and rose-cut diamond, keyless pocket watch with the original yellow gold and silver fob chain and a gold South African Pond of 1894.

HKD 60,000 - 85,000

USD 8,000 - 11,000 / EUR 6,000 - 8,500

C. Four-body, yellow gold with electrotype silver decoration, the bezel with overlapping continuous pattern, the band with vitruvian scroll pattern, hinged back cover with a central panel depicting la chasse in high relief, foliate border with four yellow gold trophies, outermost border with continuous overlapping pattern and four yellow gold fl ower heads. Hinged yellow gold cuvette. D. Niello silver with a bird and foliate scroll design, inlaid yellow gold chapter ring with radial Roman numerals and dot half-hour divisions. Rose-cut diamond-set fl eur-de-lis hands. M. 40 mm, matte gilt, 8 jewels, wolf?s tooth winding, cylinder escapement, matte gilt three-arm balance, fl at blued steel balance spring, index regulator. Cuvette signed Froment Meurice. Diam. 47 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-10-01

Good

Patinated

HANDS Original

Notes

François-Désiré Froment-Meurice (1802-1855) Was amongst the most renowned silversmiths of mid-nineteenth century Paris. He was a historicist whose work encompassed the Renaissance, medieval and Islamic styles, typically with a profusion of ornament and combining traditional and new techniques of chasing, engraving and electrotype and electro-plating. The present watch demonstrates this combination of techniques and has the very rare feature of a nielloed dial