Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

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

LOT 276

Tiffany & Co. No. 78061, circa 1900. Extraordinary 18K gold hunting cased, keyless minute repeating Art-Nouveau watch with days of the week, split seconds chronograph and highly unusual mnemonic alarm.

USD 20,000 - 24,000

Sold: USD 25,875

C. Three body, massive, bassine, cover and back chased in high relief, centred with foliage rosettes, the cover with symbolic representation of the Four Seasons between four portraits, the back with figures of angels between four other portraits, the bow chased with nudes of a man and a lady, the winding crown set with a garnet. D. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute and chronograph ring, sunk subsidiary dials for the days of the week and running seconds. Blued steel spade hands. M. 191" , nickel plated, three-quarter plate, double train with differential winding, 49 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring with swan neck micrometric index. Repeating on gongs with slide in the band. Chronograph with visible work, split seconds push piece in the band. Mnemonic alarm striking on a single gong fixed inside the back. Signed on the dial and the movement. Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 2-35

Very good

To be restored
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 27-51

Custom-made

Partially reprinted

Notes

Such an odd way of alarm signal, which cannot be modified, associated with a split seconds chronograph, suggests a very specific utilisation related with daily events taking place always at the same time with a very accurate timing. According to the period the watch was made, in our opinion, such information could only have been required by a railway company. This watch, of considerable value, was sold in the United States and could have been specially commissioned by somebody involved in that field. The name of Jay Gould, the famous American financier, railway magnate and controlling president of the Western Union Telegraph Company appears to be the most probable owner of the watch. Therefore, the portraits chased on the cover and back, are certainly members of the family. This watch could have been made for the inauguration of the first pan American line. The mnemonic alarm is programmed to strike: Once on Sundays 8.15 P. M. Three times on Saturdays 10.15 A.M. 12.15 A.M. 8.15 P.M. Three times on week days 10.15 A.M. 3.15 P. M. 8.15 P.M.