Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 37

Courting Doves Vaucher, Fleurier, made for the Chinese market, circa 1835. Fine and rare 18K gold and enamel center-seconds watch with special movement and duplex escapement.

HKD 90,000 - 110,000

EUR 9,500 - 12,000 / USD 12,000 - 14,000

Sold: HKD 109,250

C. Two-body, the back featuring two enamel techniques: champlevé and painted enamel depicting courting doves on a black ground, the bezels, pendant and bow decorated in champlevé foliage on a rose ground, gold glazed cuvette hinged to the movement ring. D. White enamel, radial Roman hours, outer minute and second divisions, Arabic fifteen minutes/seconds. Blued steel "Spoon" hands. M. 45 mm (20'''), polished steel, ?Chinese? caliber with steel wheels and standing barrel, 6 jewels, ruby duplex escapement with ruby rest insert and steel impulse pallet, plain five-arm steel balance, blued steel balance-spring. Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 54 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 40
Movement: 3 - 5 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

The type of enamel work found in this watch is rare; it requires the chaser to work long hours to dig out the metal, leaving just the contour lines as in cloisonné enamel. Because of the amount of work involved, the cloisonné technique was perfected. This technique was favored by Vaucher. Charles-Henri Vaucher, Fleurier should not be confused with the maison Vaucher frères. The firm was established by Charles-Henri Vaucher in Fleurier, in what later became the "Hotel de Ville". In 1838 Vaucher sent a number of watches, some enameled, to Canton, thereby attracting the attention of Louis Bovet who mentioned them to his uncle Edouard. The company had a branch in London; later it moved to Trévise.