Important Collector's, Watches, Wrist...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 2000

LOT 396

John Bittleston, London No. 1158, circa 1785.Fine, fire-gilded, large, center-seconds stop-watch fifth-second jumping hand, pair-cased coach watch made for the Chinese market, with painted enamel miniature.

C. Outer: two-body, back with enameled miniature depicting a young lady with a dove symbolizing romantic love, bezels engraved with floral decoration, the edge with alternating red and white stones. Inner: two-body, "bassine", polished. D. Eccentric, white enamel, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minutes, center-seconds with outer seconds ring, two subsidiary rings for lunar calendar and days of the week, small subsidiary fifth-second jumping hand, gold 'poker and beetle' hands. M. Fire-gilded, fullplate, English gilded cock pierced and engraved with foliage, cylinder escapement, plain steel balance, flat balance spring, overbanking pin on the body of the cylinder staff, fusee and chain, small hack-lever at the edge, gilded dust-cap.Signed on the movement and dust-cap.Diam. 75 mm.