Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997

LOT 192

Jules Jiirgensen, Copenhagen No. 7413, Swiss, circa 1859. Very fine and heavy 18K gold hunting cased, pocket chronometer, Presented by the President of the United States, to Captain Robinson Waite of the British Ship "RETRIEVER" for Humanity to Shipwrecked American Seamen, 1859.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

Sold: CHF 10,925

C. Four body, massive "bassine et filets", engineturned with reeded band. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with the Presidential dedication. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steed Breguet hands. M. 19"', nickel plated, "fausses cotes" decoration, 19 jewels, pivoted detent escapement, two-arm compensation balance, blued steel balance spring with terminal curve. Signed on the dial and movement. In very good condition . Diam. 54 mm.


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An almost identical watch by Jules Jiirgensen, No. 7412, was also bought by the President of the United States, to be presented to another sailor, Captain Peter Conrad Petric of the British Screw Steamer Cite of Washington. This watch was sold by Christie 's on 18th November 1996, lot 301. James Buchanan Born near Mercersburg in 1791, was Pennsylvania ' s only native son U.S. President. " Gentleman Jim " or "Old Buck " also was the only bachelor President. He was elected the 15th President of the American Union from 1857 to 1861. Aristocratic, highly intelligent, ambitious, and exceedingly cautious, Buchanan revered the law and the Constitution more than popular adulation. He died in Wheatland, Pensylvania in 1868.