Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

New York, Dec 13, 2012

LOT 144

WESTMINSTER CHIME CARILLON MINUTE REPEATER YELLOW GOLD Attributed to Edouard Jean Richard, Swiss, No. 3887. Made circa 1910. Very fine and very rare, large, 18K yellow gold, hunting-cased, keyless, minute repeating pocket watch with carillon Westminster chime with four hammers on four gongs.

USD 30,000 - 50,000

EUR 23,000 - 40,000

C. Four-body, bassine, polished, front cover with a central monogram. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel, large Breguet numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 45 mm., gilt brass, 32 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring with overcoil, index regulator, repeating on four gongs with four hammers activated by a slide on the band. Case numbered, movement punched with Constant Piguet?s partial patent number. Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Only a few carillon minute repeating watches with four hammers and Westminster chimes are known to exist. The documented melodies are Westminster chimes, the Swiss National anthem and God Save the King. This particular pocket watch with Westminster Chime features an extremely rare ebauche that is attributed to Edouard Jean Richard. The movement has an extremely rare vertically stacked hammer system and a reworked quarter rack that differ from the traditional Constant Piguet movement. Paul Edouard Jean Richard (1867-1944) specialized in musical watches, and is viewed by collectors as the central fi gure for 20th century carillon watches.