Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 44

James Calame-Robert, Chaux-de-Fonds, No. 94209, circa 1870. Extremely rare and fine 18K gold, hunting-cased pocket chronometer with one-minute tourbillon regulator and date.

CHF 33,000 - 38,000

EUR 20,000 - 25,000 / USD 25,000 - 30,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. Five-body, massive, engine-turned covers, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers, subsidiary date at 12, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel ?spade? hands. M. 47 mm (21'''), frosted gilt, 16 jewels, reversed fusee with Harrison?s maintaining power and chain with five-turn Geneva stop-work, three-arm equidistant polished steel carriage with lateral counterpoised lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring.Dial and movement signed, case and movement with the same serial number.Diam. 59 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 12 - 01

Notes

James Calame-Robert The Calame-Robert firm was active from about the middle of the 19th century. Calame-Robert used ebauches of Louis Audemars, Fontaine Melon, and others. James Calame-Robert?s two sons became partners in the firm. One of them, Jules Calame-Colix, was the President of the Society of Watchmakers in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The firm was located at 4 rue du Parc; later the sons built a factory at No. 2 of the same street. Paul Ditisheim?s brother bought the company when they retired, probably in 1925, later selling the company to J.C. Breitmeyer. Paul Ditisheim, writing to Paul Chamberlain, mentions a Calame-Robert watch in the British Museum. Apart from its Guinand type carriage, it is virtually identical to the present watch.