Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 28, 2019

LOT 149

NITON ART DECO MANUAL-WINDING LADY'S WRISTWATCH WITH PATENTED WINDING- AND SETTING-MECHANISM AND PATENTED WATER-RESISTANT CASE; PLATINUM AND DIAMONDS

HKD 110,000 - 140,000

CHF 14,850 - 17,800 / USD 15,000 - 18,000

Platinum, diamond-set with 80 round-diamonds and 10 baguettediamonds, manual-winding, vertical rectangular-shaped, Art Deco lady's wristwatch with invisible winding- and setting- crown and waterresistant case.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Niton

Year circa 1930

Movement No. 6 658

Calibre  2¾ ''' x 9''' (6.4 x 9 mm.), baguette, rhodium-plated, with going barrel, straight-line lever escapement, compensated balance and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, Geneva Quality Hall Mark

Case No. 147

Material platinum and diamonds

Bracelet black cord strap with two platinum diamond-set (4 round diamonds) rings

Buckle 18K white gold buckle (by Gay Frères, Geneva)

Caliber 2¾ ''' x 9''' (6.4 x 9 mm.), baguette, rhodium-plated, with going barrel, straight-line lever escapement, compensated balance and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, Geneva Quality Hall Mark

Dimensions 10.2 x 49 mm.

Accessories copies of the invention patents

Notes

Niton S.A., Geneva Swiss trademark registered by Jeannet, Morel and Bourquin under No. 45 822, on December 12, 1919, under the name “Niton S.A., Fabricants d’horlogerie, Manufacture de montres artistiques, chronomètres, montres plates et ultra-plates, montres-bracelets à heures sautantes, à quantième et phases de lune” (Niton S.A., Manufacturers of timepieces, Manufacture of artistic watches, chronometers, flat and ultra-flat watches, jumping hours wristwatches, with calendar and moon phases). The manufacture of Niton watches was created in Geneva in 1919 by two craftsmen from Vacheron Constantin, Alfred Bourquin (1887-?) and Edouard Morel (1887-?). It was established in 1924 at 24, bis rue de la Servette. At first, they specialize in the manufacture of watches whose movements are designed and manufactured by them. They are distinguished by their ultra-thin pocket watch calibres and their “baguette” movements with winders from below, at 12 o’clock or 3 o’clock; although they manufacture a whole range of other calibres, in particular of form, and, jewellery watches. The sales method consists in selling directly to stores (for example, Gübelin in Lucerne, Golay Fils & Stahl in Geneva) or watch manufacturers, to which it provides either the movements alone or complete watches (for example, Chopard or Patek Philippe in Geneva). Production remains artisanal. Changing modes, the crisis of the 1930s, industrial productions will force them to change course and move towards other manufacturing concepts. In 1940, Niton sold his manufacturing rights to Ebauches S.A. of Granges / Grenchen. Finally, the brand was bought in 1957 by Carlo Sarzano, who will give it a new impetus by producing gold and gold metal watches of quality. In 1971, Niton merged with Sarcar S.A., already owned by Carlo Sarzano since 1948, and legally de facto disappears.