Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 12, 2003

LOT 453

M(aurice) D(itisheim), Swiss, No. 596, made for the Indian market, circa 1890.Spectacular and rare 18K gold and enamel diamond-set, hunting-cased, astronomical, minute-repeating pocket chronometer with full calendar, phases of the moon and chronograph.

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

EUR 55,000 - 70,000 / USD 60,000 - 74,000

Sold: CHF 108,000

C. Four-body, massive, "bassine", lavishly decorated with translucent rose and green enamel rose patterns set with diamonds, band in translucent red enamel forming a repeated pattern, gold hinged cuvette over gold bezel glazed for viewing the movement. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost chronograph track divided into fifths, five-minute/seconds Arabic markers, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months, and subsidiary seconds concentric withphases of the moon aperture. M. 45 mm. (20'''), frosted gilt, 21 jewels, pivoted detent chronometer escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel helical balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band. Signed with the maker's trademark on the case. Diam. 57 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3
Movement: 3*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Maurice Ditisheim (d.1895)In 1858 he founded a company in La Chaux-de-Fonds called Ditisheim Frères. An advertisement in the "Almanach des Horlogers" (St. Imier 1888) described the firm as a "Fabrique d'Horlogerie", which bought and sold. Maurice Ditisheim exhibited watches at the 1893 Columbian World Exhibition in Chicago. He had an impressive reputation for complicated timepieces and his work was in great demand in both China and India. In 1894, the Maurice Ditisheim and Ditisheim Frères, Fabrique Vulcain combined forcs, at which time the name became "Maurice Ditisheim, Fabrique Vulcain".