Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997

LOT 604

Recordon, Spencer & Perkins, London, No. 142, Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1785. Important and large early 20K gold, enamel, ruby and pearl-set quarter-repeating "perpetuelle " watch with special escapement.

CHF 50,000 - 60,000

Sold: CHF 59,800

C. Two-body, bright-cut engraved edge with invisible hinge, the bands with applied rope-twist gold decoration on a finely matted ground, the bezel set with twin split-pearls intersected by cabochon rubies, the back decorated with blue translucent enamel (very small invisible repair), within a border of applied gold roundels, and centred with an oval enamel portrait bust of a young woman within stone and pearl-set frame; case opened by pulling upwards on the repeat pendant. Marks for Neuchatel, 20K gold, "I.G.F" Maker's Mark, No. 7051. D. White enamel (faint hair lines towards centre), with Roman hour and Arabic minute numerals. Moon hands. M. Gilt-brass full-plate with turned pillars, goingbarrel with self-winding by means of a large navetteshaped weight with unidirectional operation through a ratchet-and-pawl, one straight pin-banking spring on the weight ,the return controlled by a coil spring on the pivot arbour; the weight locked when fully wound by a steel ratchet arm automatically lifted into place by a pin on the barrel cap. Double-wheel duplex escapement with brass `scape wheels, plain three-arm brass balance with flat balance spring and tangential regulator, pierced and engraved continental cock with diamond end-stone. Quarter-repeating on a bell by depressing the pendant. Gilt dust ring. Signed on the movement. In excellent condition. Diam. 70 mm.


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Notes

this watch of exceptionally high quality, extremely well finished and in no way experimental, together with No. 141, (sold by Antiquorum in Geneva, in October 1992, lot No. 468), forms a pair made for the Chinese Market. The workmanship is entirely Swiss in character (with the exception perhaps of the diamond end-stone). The cases which carry the hallmarks of Neuchatel are to be compared with those made by Jaquet-Droz for the Chinese Market. The existence of Chinese characters on the back of the bell of the watch No. 141, confirms that they were indeed in China at one time and may well have returned to Europe with the many others, liberated from the Summer Palace in Peking, during the Boxer rebellion. For further information about watches made by pair in Europe for the Chinese Market, please see note, lot No. 605. That the pioneers of the self-winding movements would have known about each others work is certain. However, what is not so evident, is the extend to which they may have worked together. Recordon who was himself from Geneva, succeeded to Emery ' s business and applied for a patent covering five different variations for a self-winding movement in 1780. IIe would appear to have been associated with several different partners. Emery was in Cockspur Street, with Dupont he had an establishment in Tottenham Court Road and Spencer & Perkins were his further associates. That he worked with Jaquet-Droz is well known; he sent 50 guineas to Switzerland in 1782, in payment of previous purchases and was in contact with Maillardet, the Jaquet-Droz agent and partner in London. It has frequently been stated that Rccordon 's patent was really an application on behalf of Breguet, the argument being supported by the fact that he also was the agent in London for this celebrated maker. Indeed Breguet archives record numerous instances of watches being sent to Recordon, including a " perpetuelle " destined to the Prince of Wales. One further interesting detail is the use of a double wheel duplex escapement, rarely employed by English makers, but similar to that used by Breguet, Urban Jiirgensen and Frederic Hourict.