Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 512

Jolly, Paris circa 1640. Very fine gilt brass savonette pendant pre balance spring, single hand watch with barley corn engraving.

CHF 35,000 - 45,000

EUR 22,000 - 28,000 / USD 27,000 - 35,000

Sold: CHF 39,100

C. Two-body, "fermée type" with curved?in edge, formed of eight lobes engraved with what was later to be calledthe Barley corn pattern, centered by a rosette, front cover en suite, round pendant, loose ring.D. Silver ring,champlevé radial Roman numerals, half-hour markers fixed to gilt brass engraved plate with a city scene in thecenter, stylized foliage on the border. Blued steel "tulip" hand.M. 30 mm, hinged, gilt brass full plate, turnedbaluster pillars, fusee and gut, short train, verge escapement, circular iron foliot, irregular pinned cock, piercedand engraved gilt brass click for the ratchet-wheel mainspring set-up.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 35 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 39
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

This watch, remarkable for its case decoration, affords a rare glimpse of the beginnings of engine-turning. The case is meticoulsly engraved with a very small zig-zag pattern, forming an appealing and elegant design. Executing such a design by hand was diffucult and time-consuming, and a single mistake would destroy the effect. It was for these rea-sons that a special machine was invented, and the work it performed was called "engine-turning". The machine could be used for turning any article, much the same as a common lathe, but it has additional parts that can be used to engrave a great variety of patterns of curved lines. These generally derive from the French rosette, hence the name of the machine: the "rose engine".