Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jul 10, 2005

LOT 129

?Minute-Repeating? Jules Jürgensen, Copenhagen, No. 8319, case No. 3820. Made circa 1855. Fine minute-repeating 18K yellow gold hunting-cased pocket watch.

HKD 40,000 - 55,000

USD 5,000 - 7,000

Sold: HKD 50,600

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine-turned with reeded band, goldhingedcuvette with winding and setting apertures. D. White enamel, radial Romannumerals,outer minute ring, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 44mm (19,5'''),nickel, bar caliber, 31 jewels, straight line calibrated long leverescapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steelBreguet balance spring, early minute-repeating mechanism with all-or-nothingand automatic surprise piece, repeatng on gongsby a slide in the band.Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 15
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

A rare example of an early nickel movement and of an early minute-repeating mechanism still based on the movable star wheel. About five years later, Audemars was to invent a mechanism with fixed star making the hour-repeating change more precise and consequently enabling minute-repeating work to be more accurate. Before, makers had struggled with accurate repeating at the end and beginning of the hour. The watch also employs an early so called "instantaneous surprise piece", which guarantees corect minute-repeating at the moment of the hour change, the most difficult aspect in early minute-repeaters with moving star wheel. In this case the piece engages the mechanism only when the repeater is activated. For a biography of Jules Jürgensen, see following lot. The present watch was previously sold by Antiquorum, November 11, 2001, lot 107.