Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 551

Geneva, circa 1770. Very fine and very rare 20K multicolored gold and enamel double-dial early World Time watch.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

EUR 6,300 - 9,500 / USD 7,800 - 11,700

Sold: CHF 29,900

C. Two-body, Louis XV, back in Imperial blue enamelwith gilt names of 53 cities, center in en suite enamelrevolving in 24 hours with twice 12-hour radial Arabicnumerals, center with gold rosette representing noon, evening,midnight and morning, bezel engraved with repeated pattern with applied green gold flowers.D. White enamel,radial Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions with five-minute Arabic markers, winding aperture at 2o?clock. Gold "Louis XV" hands.M. 33 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain,verge escapement, brass balance with flat balance spring, continental solid engraved cock, power transmitted tothe World Time dial from the motion work via pinion meshing with the minute wheel.Diam. 41 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 24 - 01

Notes

Until the end of the 19th century, local time was different at any two places with different longitudes. One degree difference in distance meant a four minute difference in time. For travelers, it was very useful to have knowledge of the time difference between two places. This is one of the earliest watches with the mechanical means to show time differences. For instance, the watch shows a variation of about 20 minutes between Geneva and Paris. World Time watches have always been in demand. The current world?s record for a wristwatch, 6,603,500 Swiss francs, was acheived by a World Time wristwatch on April 14, 2002 (Antiquorum, Geneva, lot 608).