Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 381

Jean Rousseau, Geneva, circa 1660. Very fine and rare rock crystal and gilt brass, pre-balance spring single-hand pendant form watch in the shape of a cross.

HKD 450,000 - 550,000

EUR 48,000 - 60,000 / USD 55,000 - 70,000

Sold: HKD 368,000

C. Double-body, of two pieces of gilt brass-mounted rock crystal hinged at the top, small lower finial, short pendant, loose ring. D. Silver champlevé with radial Roman numerals and inner quarter-hour divisions, center engraved with a village scene, whole on gilt cross-shaped plate with arms engraved with instruments of passion, the foot with Christ on the Cross surrounded by the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, the top with a rooster announcing the denial. Blued steel ?tulip? hand. M. 45 x 34 mm., hinged, gilt brass florally engraved full plate, vase pillars, fusee and gut-line for the going train, verge escapement, two-arm steel circular foliot, elongated cock asymmetrically pierced with floral engraving secured by a screw, worm wheel and click set-up. Signed on the back plate.Dim: height 71 mm, width 39 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

An excellent example of 17th century Geneva watchmaking by one of its best practitioners. A virtually identical watch is in the British Museum Collection (inv. 74, 7-18, 28). Jean Rousseau, le Jeune (1606-1684) was the great-grandfather of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Like his father before him, he was a very eminent horologist, who was elected Master of the Clockmakers' Company of Geneva. He made several form watches as well as complicated pieces such as clockwatches, alarm watches and astronomical watches. Among his many apprentices were some of Geneva?s best horologists, for example, Isaac Bordier and Amédée Marchand in 1659. ?Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois? by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998