Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jul 10, 2005

LOT 29

?Romantic Ladies? Léo Juvet, Shanghai, No. 330081 & No. 330083. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1875. Very fine, mirror-image pair of silver gilt, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watches with center seconds, and original morocco fitted case and keys.

HKD 80,000 - 95,000

EUR 8,000 - 9,500 / USD 10,000 - 12,000

Sold: HKD 109,250

C. Two-body, ?Consular?, back cover decorated with a finely painted portraitof a young lady in a powdered wig with a garland of rosesand a lace edged dress, the portrait is surrounded by dark blue translucentenamel over engine-turning, the bezels set with half pearls,spring-loaded, gilded and glazed cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Romannumerals, outer minute markers and fifteen minute Arabicnumerals. Blued steel 'ovoid' hands. M. 47 mm (21??), gilded and entirelyfoliate engraved, ?Chinese? calibre, 16 jewels, free-standingbarrel, counterpoised lateral lever escapement, bimetallic compensationbalance, white metal flat balance spring, blued-steel flat balancespring, index regulator.Movements signed Juvet in Chinese characters. The cases with English-styleprestige marks.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Although most of the watches and snuffboxes with automata destined for the Chinese market were made in pairs, the majority of them were separated. It is very rare to find a pair still together. Juvet One of the important Swiss horological families working for the Chinese market. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) first established his workshop in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved to Fleurier. He began making "Chinese" watches in 1856. Edouard?s sons Ami-Louis and Léo traveled to China to work in the family firm. When Ami-Louis died there, Léo (1848-1891) took his place. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet the two families maintained friendly relations. The Maison Juvet prospered, opening branches in Tien-Tsin and Saigon, to the extent that in 1872 Léo wrote : "Our watches sell like salt". In 1873, Edouard Juvet registered a trademark in Chinese characters which was used on the company?s products. He granted his son Léo power of attorney in November 1875, and after his death in February 1883, Léo succeeded him at the head of the firm. Literature: ?La montre Chinoise?, Alfred Chapuis.