Bourdin, rue de la Paix, Paris, No. 8703, circa 1860. Very fine 18K gold half-hunting cased early quarter repeating keyless pocket chronometer. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 12th April 1997

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997

LOT 201

Bourdin, rue de la Paix, Paris, No. 8703, circa 1860. Very fine 18K gold half-hunting cased early quarter repeating keyless pocket chronometer.

CHF 6,500 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 7,475

C. Four body, massive "bassine et filets, polished with black champleve enamelled Roman numerals on the border of the dial aperture, the back engraved with the arms of the Duc de Savoie. Hinged gold cuvette pierced for the unusual gold regulator index and engraved with the name of the owner in 1901. D. White enamel with Roman numerals, Arabic minute ring and sunk offset subsidiary seconds, Gold "spade" hands. M. No. 4707, 18"', gilt brass, bar calibre with going barrel, 21 jewels, pivoted detest escapement with gold escape wheel, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring. Repeating on gongs with slide in the band. Signed on the dial and cuvette. hi very good condition. Diam. 48 mm.

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Due to its serial number No. 4707, and the quality of the movement of this pocket chronometer which is also very similar to those produced by Louis Audemars at the same period, can be attributed to this eminent maker. Humbert, Ranieri Carlo Emanuel Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio, Duke of Savoy, later King of Italy (1844-1900) Son of Victor Emmanuel II and of Adelaide, archduchess of Austria, was born in Turin, capital of the kingdom of Sardinia on the 14th of March 1844. Entering the army on the 14 of March 1858 with the rank of Captain, he was present at the battle of Solferino in 1859 and in 1866 commanded a division at Custozza. On the first of April 1868 he married his cousin Margherita Teresa Giovanna, Princess of Savoy, daughter of the Duke of Genova . On the 11 November 1869, Margherita gave birth to Vicki Emmanuel, Prince of Naples, afterward Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. Ascending the throne on the death of his father on 9th January 1878, Humbert adopted the style "Humbert I of Italy " instead of Humbert IV. Accompanied by the prime minister Cairoli, he began a tour of the provinces of his kingdom. Entering Naples he was attacked by a fanatic. The king warded off the blow with his sabre, but Cairoli, in attempting to defend him, was severely wounded. The would be assassin was condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted by the King to one of penal servitude for life. The occurrence upset for several years the health of Queen Margherita. In 1881, King Humbert, again accompanied by Cairoli, resumed his interrupted tour and visited Sicily and the southern Italian provinces. In 1882 he took a prominent part in the national mourning of Garibaldi. Compared with the reigns of his grandfather,Charles Albert, and of his father, Victor Emmanuel, the reign of Humbert was tranquil. Scrupulously observant of constitutional principles, he followed as far as practicable parliamentary indications in his choice of premiers. His popularity was enhanced by the firmness of his attitude towards the Vatican. The claims of King Hubert upon popular gratitude and affection were enhanced by his extraordinary munificence. The regard in which he was universally held was abundantly demonstrated on the occasion of the unsuccessful attempt upon his life made by the anarchist Acciarito near Rome on the 22nd of April 1897, and still more after his tragic assassination at Monza by the anarchist Bresci on the evening of the 19th of July 1900.