Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 33

Bouquet of Flowers Fleurier, made for the Chinese market circa 1850. Very fine 18K gold and painted on enamel watch with engraved Tixier movement.

HKD 45,000 - 60,000

EUR 4,500 - 6,500 / USD 6,000 - 8,000

Sold: HKD 66,700

C. Two-body, ?Chinese?, back painted with bouquet offlowers, champlevé enamel bezels, bow and pendant, glazed cuvette hinged to the movement ring. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds divisions with fifteen-minute/seconds Arabic markers. Gilt ?Spade? hands.M. 48 mm (21???), gilt brass fully engraved Tixier ?Chinese? caliber, free-standing barrel, cylinder escapement, steel three-arm balance with blued steel wings, flat balance spring.Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3 - 49
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 04

Notes

Jean Tixier Who was born in France, came to Fleurier around 1850 where he became an important figure producing horological goods for the Chinese market. He considerably changed the movement design for Chinese market watches. Tardy lists one Jean Tixier, most likely this one, as a village watchmaker at Clermont-Ferrand, working from 1840 to 1854. It is most likely that in 1854 he emigrated to Fleurier. Tixier changed the existing so-called ?Chinese? caliber for a 3/4-plate, symmetrically designed movement. He designed a few calibers, some for 8-day watches. In 1858 a certain Monsieur Pélaz from Geneva came up with the idea to enamel movements destined for the Chinese market, choosing the Tixier caliber.