Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 363

Westminster Chime Attributed to Eduard JeanRichard, Le Locle, No. 3136, circa 1910. Fine and extremely rare 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless minute-repeating watch with "Carillon Westminster" chime.

CHF 18,000 - 23,000

EUR 11,700 - 15,000

Sold: CHF 35,075

C. four-body, "bassine", polished front cover with monogram ?TRA?, hinged gold cuvette with dedication inscription. D. black enamel with Roman numerals and sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 20''', frosted and gilt, 32 jewels, calibrated straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance-spring, repeating on four gongs with four hammers by means of a slide on the band.Signed on the cuvette.Diam. 54


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 31 - 01

Notes

Carillon minute repeating watches are very rare; only a few are known with Westminster chimes.Eduard JeanRichard specialized in musical watches. He made a carillon watch with seven gongs playing the Swiss ational Anthem. JeanRichard founded his own retail company in 1915. Before that he made ebauches for other companies, such as this one, sold by the Goldsmith's & Silversmith's Company. JeanRichard utilized a patent by Constant Piguet of March 20, 1896, for ?a Montre a repetition-carillon a quarte marteaux?. The patent number is punched on the movement of this watch. In addition to regular watches, the JeanRichard company made carillon watches, playing, among ?God save the King?, among other tunes. umerous watches by JeanRichard were sold by Swiss retailers to the English market, where they were very popular. For another example made by JeanRichard and sold by Paul Ditisheim on the British market, see Antiquorum Oct 19, 2002, lot 8.