Important Collector's Wristwatches,Po...

Grand Havana Room, Mar 24, 2004

LOT 128

Mido, ?Ettore Bugatti?, No. 261492. Produced in the late 1930s.Very fine and very rare, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch in the shape of a Bugatti radiator grill with an integrated andtextured 18K yellow and white gold bracelet.

USD 17,000 - 22,000

EUR 13,000 - 17,000

Sold: USD 19,550

C. two-body, solid, polished, hinged case back, winding crown at 12, red enamel medallion bearing the initials ?E.B?. D. "guilloché"silver with painted Arabic numerals. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands. M. Cal. 9''', maillechort, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement,cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to 3 positions, blued steel flat balance spring.Dial, case, and movement signed.Dim. 24 x 35 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3 - 6
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

Research indicates that the original Bugatti radiator wristwatch model was produced in three small series during the 1920s. About adozen wristwatches of this type are currently known to have survived of all the series made. Most of them belonged to people closelyassociated with the Bugatti family or with the firm. Eight of the surviving examples belonged to the following : Ettore Bugatti, Mr. LePrandieres, coach builder for Bugatti in Paris; Jean Bugatti, son of Ettore Bugatti; Col. W. Sorel, British representative for Bugatti; RenéDreyfus, team racing driver; Unknown, possibly Rudy Caracciola; Ernst Friedrich, racing mechanic; Louis Chiron, team racing driver.