Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 159

Five Time Zone WatchJ.W. Benson, Watch & Clock Makers to H.R.H. the prince of Wales, 25 Old Bond St, London, No. 30515, made for the Indian market, hallmarked 1869-1870.Very fine and rare 18K gold and painted on enamel hunting-cased pocket watch showing the time in London, Mecca, Constantinople and New York.

C. Four-body, massive, "bassine et filets", front painted on enamel with a bouquet of flowers, border with champlevé green and white stylized in Indian style floral pattern on translucent scarlet background over flinqué, back with Arabesque pattern of white and green enamel against translucent scarlet enamel over flinqué, center with enameled initials of the Nizam of Hyderabad, gold hinged cuvette. D. Silver, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, four subsidiary dials showing the time in for cities with central applied gold rosettes. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 41 mm.(18'''), 3/4-plate, fusee and chain, 19 jewels, lateral counterpoised lever escapement with the lift on the pallets, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, diamond endstone.Signed on the dial and movement.Diam. 50 mm.