Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 153

Titus and BereniceEdouard Juvet, Fleurier, made for the Chinese market, circa 1840.Fine, 18K gold and painted on enamel center seconds watch with special escapement.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 13,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 25,300

C. Two-body, "Chinese" style, with the gold cuvette hinged to the movement ring, spring-loaded back finely painted on enamel with a couple, possibly depicting Titus and Berenice, a sunset in the background, roses growing on a stone barrier to the left, bezels with a repeated champlevé enamel pattern of white flowers on a translucent scarlet ground. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with fifteen-minute Arabic markers. Gold "spade" hands. M. 47 mm. ø (21'''), gilt brass, fullengraved "Chinese" caliber, 11 jewels, free-standing barrel, ruby duplex escapement, five-arm plain steel balance, blued steel balance spring, diamond endstone.Signed on the movement.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Edouard & Léo JuvetOne of the important Swiss horological families working for the Chinese market. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) was first established in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved his workshop to Fleurier. He began making "Chinese" watches in 1856. Edouard's sons Ami-Louis and Léo traveled to China to work in the family firm. When Ami-Louis died there, Léo (1848-1891) took his place. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet the two families maintained friendly relations. The Maison Juvet prspered, opening branches in Tien-Tsin and Saigon, to the extent that in 1872 Léo wrote : "Our watches sell like salt". In 1873, Edouard Juvet registered a trademark in Chinese characters which was used on the company's products. He granted his son Léo power of attorney in November 1875, and after his death in February 1883, Léo succeeded him at the head of the firm.A very similar pair of watches was in the Lord Sandberg Collection. See Antiquorum, The Sandberg Watch Collection, March 31, 2001, No. 361