Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998

LOT 136

Hamilton & Co. Calcutta & Simla, No. 1526, Swiss, made for the Indian Market, circa 1880. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, diamond-set hunting cased, keyless watch with power reserve indication and enamel portrait, the case in the manner of J. Ferrero.

USD 65,000 - 75,000

C. Four body, massive, "bassine et filets " , chased with formal decoration, cover and back panels of green flinque enamel inlaid with an extra rich floral decoration of large rose-cut diamonds. Hinged gold cuvette with the polychrome enamel portrait of a nobleman, painted in the manner of Graff. D. Matted gold with raised Roman numerals, sunk subsidiary seconds and 30 hours Up-and-Down scale, decorated with engraved and cast gold foliage decoration. Gold "spade" hands. M. 17 - , gilt brass half plate 15 jewels, pointed tooth lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, balance spring with terminal curve, diamond end-stone. Signed on the movement. Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-51

Very good

Partially reprinted

Notes

Very much in the style of Ferrero, the floral decoration of the case is made of unusually large rose-cut diamonds. The portrait on the cuvette is painted with such skill that it can be attributed to John Graff who used to work for Ferrero. J. Ferrero Case maker jeweller, able engraver and enameller, he was successor to" L. Simonet & Cie. He settled in Geneva, 19, rue du Rhone in 1854, and specialised in very expensive gold and enamelled watch cases, richly inlaid with diamonds and gems, made for the Chinese, Indian and Islamic markets. He also used to work with Graff, the celebrated portrait painter. J. Ferrero received the highest award at the Chicago Universal Exhibition in 1893 and a gold medal at the Exposition Nationale de Geneve in 1896. He was appointed member of the Jury at the Exposition Universelle de Paris in 1900. John Graff (1836 - 1902) He was the most eminent portrait painter on enamel, in Geneva at that time. He used to work from poor quality photographs sent from India, which he would then colour with great skill, using all the various shades of the rainbow. His work was excellent, never garish, and his reputation extended to the Far- East, where the Nabobs insisted that their portraits be painted on the watches they had purchased.