Important Watches Wristwatches, and C...
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 02, 2000
LOT 257
Martin Firstenfelder, circa 1810.Fine and unusual silver half skeleton watch with special escapement.
CHF 3,500 - 4,000
Sold: CHF 5,060
C. Three-body, Empire with glazed back, reeded band, gold goutte, nail pieces and hinges. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals. Gold half moon hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, the back plate fully pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, allowing one to see the complete train of wheels, overhanging cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, 1/3 gilt brass continental cock with garnet end-stone.Signed on the dial and back plate.Diam. 62 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: * 3 |
|
Dial: 13 - 01 |
Notes
A very similar escapement with a brass escape wheel and a steel overhanging cylinder, was also fitted on at least two other very peculiar skeleton watches from the 1780?s, both signed by Kehlhoff, a German maker once working in Mannheim. This escapement foreshadows the Breguet ruby cylinder escapement whose ruby tile is shaped the same way with the teeth of the escape wheel cut in the same form. Breguet used it first for his Souscription watches and subsequently adopted it for most of his watchefor civilian use.Please refer to the Antiquorum auction catalogue of October 14, 1990, lot 290.