Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 119

The Blacksmith. Attributed to Piguet et Capt, Genève, circa 1805. Very fine, and very rare 18K gold and enamel pearl-set double train automaton watch with visible diamond-set balance mounted in a ring.

C. Rectangular top with canted corners, half pearl-set bezel, polished flat band and back with a sliding cover of winding and setting apertures, unusual shank extending at the top, hinged on both sides with a mechanism allowing for easy expansion or contraction, a pin at the left side for activating the automaton. D. Set on a painted on enamel scene, an applied multicolored gold blacksmith hammering on an anvil, a forge close by and a fountain with running water. Small, eccentric, with Breguet numerals and outer minute dot divisions. Blued steel “index” hands. M. Rectangular with canted corners, 27.9 x 13.8 mm., brass full plate, two fixed barrels, cylinder escapement, three-arm diamond-set balance with flat balance spring, the blacksmith activated by pins set on the second wheel of the automaton train.Dim. 35 x 21 mm.