Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 198

HERMÈS DESK COMPENDIUM Hermès, Paris, the movement by Pontifa, Swiss. Made circa 1940. Very fine and very rare, 8-day going, revolving chromed and leather desk compendium with triple-date calendar, barometer, thermometer and compass, probably designed by Paul Dupré-Lafon.

C. Three-body, cube-form, chromed, fl at and inclined bezels, compass on the top, the sides with dials for the barometer and thermometer, calendar with engraved days of the month and apertures for the days of the week and the months, revolving on a stepped compressed leather square base. D. Brushed silvered with painted baton hour indexes and Arabic quarter-hour numerals. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Cal. 19???, rhodium-plated, 15 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, selfcompensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed Hermès, movement also signed Pontifa S.A. Dim. 11.5 x 11 x 11 cm.