Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

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

LOT 305

Deutsche Präcisions-Uhren Fabrik Urania, München, circa 1890.Fine and rare 14K rose gold keyless antimagnetic pocket watch with special escapement.

HKD 13,000 - 17,000

EUR 2,000 - 2,500 / USD 1,700 - 2,200

Sold: HKD 16,100

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", polished, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, Arabic numerals, outer minute ring with five-minute red Arabic figures, subsidiary sunk seconds. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 45 mm. (20'''), frosted gilt half-plate, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, Palladium Breguet balance spring, phosphorus bronze escape wheel and pallet fork, very small brass double roller table, micrometric "swan-neck" regulator.Signed on dial, case and movement.Diam. 52mm


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

In the 19th century, and before, if a watch became magnetized, without modern electromagnetic coils, watchmakers straggled, often in vain, to demagnetize them. They had numerous methods, none of which really worked. One of the most curious ones was to burry the parts in the ground in glass container. During 1880's watch companies experimented with different alloys for the escapement to make watches as much as possible antimagnetic. Patek Philippe for instance made two in 1881, Nos. 62051 and 6252, very similar in he construction to the present one. It appears that Urania also took magnetism seriously into consideration.