Important Watches Collector's Wristwa...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Feb 20, 2005

LOT 174

James McCabe, Royal Exchange, London, No.9275, for the Chinese Market, London hallmarks for 1818 - 1819. Fine and historically important 18K gold, enamel and pearl-set royal presentation watch bearing King George III?s cipher.

HKD 110,000 - 130,000

EUR 11,000 - 13,000 / USD 14,000 - 17,000

C. Three-piece, "Chinese" reeded band, hinged split-pearl set bezel, stem and bow decorated with blue and whitechampleve enamel and set with pearls, hinged back with pearl border, overlaid with dark blue translucent enamelon an engine turned ground, scalloped white and pale green champleve enamel border, mounted with the rosediamond set cypher of King George III with a crown above. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outerminute divisions, large subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hour and minute hands. M. 40 mm., gilt full-plate, ringedcylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement, steel flat-rim three-arm balance, finely chased andengraved single footed cock and furniture, diamond endstone. Signed on the movement, numbered on the dial,movement and case. The movement and case punched with the initials I.MC for James McCabe.Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 29 - 01

Notes

King George III (reigned 1760 - 1820). Was born in 1738, the son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta, Princess of Wales. In 1761 he married Charlotte of Meklenburg-Strelitz to whom he was devoted. They produced a prolific fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters. He was the first King to have science included in his education and became particularly interested in clocks and watches, owning the very first watch to be fitted with a lever escapement. George was aflicted by porphyria, a mad-dening disease which disrupted his reign as early as 1765. Despite this, he was one of the most cultured of English monarchs. However, several attacks strained his grip on reality and debilitated him in the last years of his reign. Personal rule was given to his son, George, The Prince Regent in 1811. George III died blind, deaf and mad at WIndsor Castle on 29th January 1820. The present watch is likely to have been ordered by the Lord Chamberlain's office for presentation in the name of the King to a Chinese dignitary.