Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 109

Au son des cloches Imhof, London, (Swiss), circa 1800. A fine and rare 18K gold two train Grande et Petite Sonnerie Clockwatch with automaton Jacks striking bells mounted on the dial and quarter-repeat.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

EUR 6,500 - 9,800

Sold: CHF 14,375

C. Two-body, Consular-type, polished, hinged engine-turned dust cover. D. Eccentric white enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, five-minute Arabic markers, later mixed gold hands, upon a translucent dark blue enamel ground with chased and engraved three-color gold ”Jacks” modeled as a lady and a shepherdess striking two polished bells within a gilt arabesque border. M. 45 mm, gilt, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, foliate pierced cock, bright steel clock work on the back plate, both trains run from fixed barrels, strike-work under the dial, repeat activated by depressing the pendant, engine-turned hinged dust cover. Dial and dust cover signed.Diam. 58 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 4 - 28 - 52
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

In most repeating automaton watches, the hours and quarters are struck by hammers on gongs. In this watch, however, the automata actually hit the bells with the hammers they hold. Bells were commonly used in such watches until the Genevese watchmaker François Crespe had the idea, in 1792, of replacing them by gongs in repetition watches. Crespe was the author of "Essai sur les montres à répétition" in 1804.