Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 36

Titus and Berenice Edouard Juvet, Fleurier, No. 46287, made for the Chinese market, circa 1840. Fine, 18K gold and painted on enamel center-seconds watch with duplex escapement.

HKD 150,000 - 180,000

EUR 16,000 - 19,000 / USD 19,000 - 23,000

Sold: HKD 310,500

C. Two-body, "Chinese" style, with the gold cuvette hinged to the movement ring, spring-loaded back finely painted on enamel with Titus and Berenice, a sunset in the background, roses growing on a stone barrier to the left, bezels with a repeated champlevé enamel pattern of white flowers on a translucent scarlet ground. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with fifteen-minute Arabic markers. Gold "Spade" hands. M. 47 mm (21'''), gilt brass, fully engraved "Chinese" caliber, 11 jewels, free-standing barrel, ruby duplex escapement with ruby rest insert and steel impulse pallet, three-arm plain steel balance, blued steel balance spring, diamond endstone.Signed on the movement.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

The pair to this watch was sold by Antiquorum during the Important Watches, Collector's Wristwatches and Clocks sale held on November 16, 2002, lot 153. Edouard & Léo Juvet One of the important Swiss horological families working for the Chinese market. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) first established his workshop in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved to Fleurier. He began making "Chinese" watches in 1856. Edouard's sons Ami-Louis and Léo traveled to China to work in the family firm. When Ami-Louis died there, Léo (1848-1891) took his place. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet the two families maintained friendly relations. The Maison Juvet prospered, opening branches in Tien-Tsin and Saigon, to the extent that in 1872 Léo wrote: "Our watches sell like salt". In 1873, Edouard Juvet registered a trademark in Chinese characters which was used on the company's products. He granted his son Léo power of attorney in November 1875, and after his death in February 1883, Léo succeeded him at the head of the firm. A very similar pair of watches was in the Lord Sandberg Collection. See Antiquorum, The Sandberg Watch Collection, March 31, 2001, No. 61.