The Art of Horology in Geneva
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999
LOT 112
Dufour & Ceret à Ferney, circa 1780.Very fine and rare, 18K gold mounted, pearl and ruby set bloodstone watch, with a short gold chain, a bloodstone set gold key and a coral and bloodstone set gold seal.
CHF 18,000 - 22,000
Sold: CHF 21,850
C. Double body Louis XVI, with split-pearl set band, ruby set bezels, the back made of bloodstone.D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outerArabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-armbalance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece.Signed on the dial and back plate.Diam. 34 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: * 3 |
|
Dial: 3 - 13 - 01 |
Notes
Pierre Dufour et Louis CeretPierre Dufour, son of Jacques, belonged to a family of watchmakers. Although strongly attached to Geneva, it was not until 1770 that he became a patriot. He entered into partnership with a watchmaker called Fol, in 1795, establishing the trade name of Dufour Fol & Cie.Louis Ceret, Dufour's brother-in-law, worked with him at the head of the Royal Manufacture of Ferney, organised and protected by Voltaire, which later became known as the Grand Comptoir. In 1792, the two watchmakers gave the Grand Comptoir to Benedict Ceret, Louis' son, in order to provide him with financial security. From 1796 to 1802, Louis Ceret formed a partnership with the Veigneurs brothers, Jean-Marc and Isaac, in Geneva.For more informations, please refer to: Ferney-Voltaire, Pages d'histoire, published by the Cercle d'études ferneysiennes - Académie Candide, pp. 225-226