The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 572

American Eagle and early AutomobileIllinois Watch Co., Springfield, Ill., No. 3834303, Model 6, circa 1922.Fine and very rare, 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless watch with a very unusual case decoration.

USD 2,800 - 3,200

Sold: USD 2,990

C. Four-body, "bassine", by Queen City Watch Case Co., No. 170465, front with applied rose and yellow gold automobile, back with American eagle, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, double sunk, bold Arabic numerals, outer minute track with five-minute red Arabic markers, sunk sub-seconds. Blued steel "Breguet" hands.M. 16 size, nickel, 3/4 split plate with mocked bridges, elaborately damascened, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut-bime-tallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, Reed's patented whiplash micrometer regulator.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 50 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

The high relief of this decoration combined with the 18K gold case is most unusual. The Queen City Company made very high quality cases, which were often hand-finished. The company mostly worked for Gruen but on occasion made custom pieces for other customers, of which this is an excellent example.It is said that the eagle was used as a national emblem following one of the first battles of the Revolution. The noise of the early-morning battle awoke the sleeping eagles and as they flew out from their nests and circled above the fighting men, they cried out."They are shrieking for Freedom," stated the patriots.