Exceptional Collectors Timepieces, Ho...

Geneva, May 15, 2005

LOT 96

?To Prince Orloff? Dent, London, No. 32493, formerly the pro-perty of Prince Orloff. London hallmarks for 1893-1894. Extremely fine and rare, large 18K yellow gold and enamel minute-repeating hunting-cased keyless pocket watch.

CHF 17,000 - 22,000

EUR 11,000 - 14,000 / USD 14,000 - 19,000

C. Four-body, heavy, "bassine et filets", polished, possibly madeby Alfred Brady (AB), hinged and sprung front cover decoratedwith a black enamel coat of arms and motto, polished band,hinged back cover decorated with the cipher of Prince Orloff inblack enamel. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel, by Willis,with radial Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiaryseconds. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. 43 mm. (19'''), frostedgilt, half-plate, spring barrel, jewels in screwed chatons, NicoleNielsen winding, lateral lever escapement with ruby locking pin,cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguetbalance spring, diamond endstone, index regulation, repeatingon two gongs, activated by a slide on the band.Dial and movement signed. Case numbered.Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Dent The firm of Dent was established by Edward John Dent (1790 -1853). Between 1815 and 1829 he was employed by the Vulliamys and the Barrauds. In 1830 he went into partnership with John Roger Arnold and in 1840 he set up on his own at 33 Cockspur Street. The year before his death he secured the contract for making the clock for "Big Ben" - the bell housed in St. Stephen's tower at the Palace of Westminster. He made fine chronometers and watches as well as others of a high commercial grade. The firm continued as E. Dent and Co. Ltd. It is interesting that the word "late" has been inserted into the dedi-cations engraved on the movement "To HRH The Emperor of Russia" and "To Her Majesty". Alexander III died in 1894 and Queen Victoria in 1901, meaning that the engraving was twice updated and that this watch was in stock for up to eight years before being bought by Prince Orloff. Prince Vladimir Nicolaievitch Orloff P P rince Vladimir Nicolaievitch Orloff, the son of Prince Nicholas Alexeievitch Orloff and Princess Catherine Nicolaievna Troubetzkoy, was born in Brussels on January 12 1869 and died in Sannois on August 29, 1927. He was Lieutenant General and Chef de la Maison Militaire of Emperor Nicolas I. Among his numerous decorations was that of Commander of the Legion of Honor. Prince Vladimir married Princess Olga C. Belosselsky Belozersky (1874- 1923), the daughter of Prince Constantin Belosselsky Belozersky. Prince Vladimir?s father, Prince Nicholas Alexeievitch (born circa 1827), began as adjudant in the Imperial guard of Nicholas I, and was appointed Russian minister to Brussels in 1860. It was no doubt Prince Nicholas, an important client of Breguet, who in 1877 owned the watch sold by Antiquorum on October 14, 2001, as lot. No. 777. This lot is proof that his son appreciated fine horology as well.