The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 519

Geneva, made for the Islamic Market, circa 1660.Very fine and rare, oval, silver, partly gilt hunting cased, moon phase astronomical pre-balance spring watch.

CHF 15,000 - 18,000

C. Oval silver gilt, cover and back, fully chased with flowers and decorated with polished silver moon croissants, the band applied with silver pierced and engraved strawberry flowers and foliage. D. Silver, fully engraved with foliage, small eccentric Turkish silver gilt chapter ring for hours, symmetrical silver gilt dial above for the age of the moon with inner moon phase aperture, small subsidiary apertures on the left for days of the week and on the right for the months. Blued steel balustehands. M. Hinged oval gilt-brass full plate with engraved Egyptian pillars, fusee with gut-line, three wheel train, verge escapement, two-arm steel balance without spring, irregular oval foliage pierced and engraved cock secured by a screw, the back plate overlaid with a fine pierced and engraved, silver floral open work decoration.Dim. 69 x 51 mm.(excluding ring)


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 3
Dial: 3 - 04

Notes

Towards the middle of the 17th century, several Geneva watchmakers, following Antoine Arlaud, settled in Galata, a working part of Constantinople were they were producing watches for the Islamic Market. Most of the movements were imported from Geneva, only the cases being produced in Turkey. The quality of this watch enables one to think it was almost entirely produced in Geneva.