Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 343

Guye & Barbezat, Locle, retailed by P(hilip)pe Compazieu, horloger, Montpellier, circa 1885.Very fine 18K gold keyless astronomical minute-repeating watch with moon phases, perpetual calendar, and chronograph.

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", massive, engine-turned covers, front with engraved initials, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost seconds track with five-minute/seconds Arabic markers, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four year leap cycle and subsidiary seconds concentric with phases of the moon aperture. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 45 mm. (20'''), nickel, "fausses côtes" decoration, 35 jewels, straighline calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compen-sation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band.Signed on the dial and punched with trademark inside the back of the case, cuvette signed by the retailer.Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Guye & Barbezatfounded circa 1870 by Charles Barbezat-Baillod and Henri Guye, specialized in complicated watches. In the 20th century they became one of the largest houses manufacturing repeaters (under the trade name Le Phare). At the 1883 Amsterdam Exhibition, they won one of only two Grand Diplomas of Honor awarded to the Swiss, the other going to Patek, Philippe & Co. Bibliography: "Swiss Timepiece Makers", Kathleen H. Pritchard, USA, 1997.