Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Hong-kong, Jun 08, 2002

LOT 289

H. Durand, 71 Davies St., Berkeley Square, London, hallmarked 1874-75.Extremely rare, very fine and important 18K gold keyless astronomical perpetual calendar watch with phases of the moon and chronograph.

HKD 48,000 - 64,000

EUR 7,000 - 9,200 / USD 6,200 - 8,200

Sold: HKD 78,200

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", the back engraved with a small coat-of-arms, gold hinged cuvette. D. Off-white enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost chronograph scale, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months concentric with phases of the moon aperture and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel, "spade" hands. M. 42 mm. (18'''1/2) frosted gilt, 3/4-plate, 19 jewels, lateral calibrated lever escapement with the lift on the pallets, cut bimetallic compenation balance, Breguet balance spring, Nicole Nielsen winding system, chronograph and perpetual calendar mechanisms.Signed on the movement. Diam. 49 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Most complicated English watches of the late 19th and early 20th century used either Swiss ebauches or movements which were sent to Switzerland to be fitted with complications. (Dent sent movements to Montandon, Frodsham to Piguet). Entirely English-made, no doubt by Nicole Nielsen, this watch has a perpetual calendar mechanism based on a vertical movement of the main controlling lever, as opposed to the Swiss which used horizontally worked levers. A similar comparison can be made between EnglisStogden repeaters and their Swiss counterparts. An important example of British horology with complications.