Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 78

Swiss, No. 5114, made for Bigelow, Kennard & Co., Boston, circa 1890. Very fine 18K gold keyless astronomical minute-repeating watch with perpetual calen-dar, phases of the moon, split-seconds chrono-graph and 60-minute register.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", polished with engraved initials in the back, gold hinged cuvette, chronograph safety bolt at 1 o?clock on the band, split seconds activated push-button at 11 o?clock. D. White enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute and chronograph tracks with five-minute/seconds red Arabic markers, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four-year leap cycle concentric with minute register, and subsidiary seconds with phases of the moon aperture. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 42 mm. (19???), rhodium-plated, 36 jewels, "superior adjustment", straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, "swan-neck" micrometric regulator, chronograph mechanism on the back plate, split mechanism under the dial, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band. Signed on dial, case and movement signed by the retailer. Diam. 51 mm.