Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 385

J(ea)n and J(acque)s Rousseau, Geneva, circa 1640. Very fine and rare silver pre balance spring one-hand watch.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 13,000 - 20,000 / USD 15,500 - 23,000

Sold: CHF 25,300

C. Two-body, bassine type with inward-curving edges, entirely fluted including the hinged bezel, small rosette in the center of the back, tulip-shaped pendant, loose ring. D. Silver chapter ring with Roman numerals and half-hour dot divisions applied on gilt metal engraved plate, the center with a town scene, the outside with floral engraving, single blued steel hand. M. 30.1 mm., gilt, full plate, turned baluster pillars, short four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, fusee and gut-line, vergeescapement, bronze balance without a spring, long gilt one-footed cock secured by a screw but still with a pinning block, pierced and engraved with foliage, ratchet wheel and click set-up, the hand driven directly (via the hour wheel) from a four-leaf lantern pinion mounted on the extension of the fusee arbor.Signed on the movement.Diam. 35 mm.Published in the Sandberg book, pp. 58-59.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 6 - 15
Movement: 3 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 04

Notes

Rousseau It is often difficult to date watches signed "J. Rousseau, Genève", for the Rousseau dynasty of watchmakers had many members who were very active in the second and third quarters of the 17th century. The oldest, Jean 1580-1642, a master watchmaker and the great-grandfather of Jean-Jacques, the philosopher, had seven sons and five daughters, among them Jean le Jeune 1606-1684, David 1641-1738, and Jaques, all master watchmakers. What distinguishes the present lot from others is the fact that it is signed Jn Js Rousseau, which can only be read as "Jean Jaques Rousseau". This watch is therefore either by an unrecorded member of the Rousseau family, or was made by two brothers, Jean and Ja ues. The Geneva Musée de l'Horlogerie et de l'émaillerie formerly possessed in its collection inv. o. AD 2247 a watch signed J. Rousseau, in a virtually identical case of the same diameter, and also with 32 lobes, which must come from the same cast. It is signed "J. Rousseau". Since the Rousseau family has been researched quite extensively by many historians, it seems quite unlikely that a member of the family may have gone unrecorded. We therefore suggest that the present lot was a product o cooperation between the two brothers mentioned above, making it an additional contribution to the history of this important horological family.