OMEGAMANIA

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Apr 15, 2007

LOT 32

?CUPID AND PSYCHE?

Omega, No. 1840957, case No. 3621300, Ref. 743.11. Sold on March 6, 1906. Very fine and rare, 18K yellow gold and enamel lady?s pendant watch with a painted on enamel scene of Cupid and Psyche. Accompanied by the original fitted box and a gold chain with pearl and opal-set slide. This watch is sold with Certificate of Authenticity and a 2-year Omega guarantee.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,400 - 5,700 / USD 5,800 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 12,980

C. Four-body, bassine, bezel with white enamel and gold floral decoration, band with chased dot and floral leaf decoration, back with painted on enamel scene of Cupid preparing to pierce the heart of sleeping Psyche amid a wooded lake setting, the whole scene surrounded by a gold frame and cast with a band of green ribbon and gold flowers in high relief against a white enamel ground. D. White enamel with black Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions and outermost black Arabic five minute markers, subsidiary seconds. Yellow gold ?Louis XV? hands. M. Cal. 11??? LOB, frosted gilt, 15 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, bimetallic cut compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 30 mm. Property of a German Collector


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3-50

Good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Cal. 11??? LOB L = Lépine; O = Omega caliber; B = B quality, 15-17 jewels, 4 chatons, adjusted to less than one minute per day. Cupid and Psyche Psyche was so admired for her beauty that she provoked the jealousy of Venus, who asked her son Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with the ugliest of men. Eros, however, was so struck by Psyche?s beauty that he did not carry out his mother's orders. In the meantime, while Psyche's sisters both married, she did not. Her father consulted an oracle, who told him to abandon her on a hillside, where a snake would come for her. But instead, a soft wind carried her to a delightful meadow where she fell asleep. She awoke to find herself in the garden of a beautiful palace., where, at nightfall, she felt a presence at her side. This man, gentle and tender, was the best of husbands and asked only that Psyche never attempt to see his face. But Psyche was persuaded by her jealous sisters that her husband must be a monster. That night, she stole a look at him, and instead of the monster she had feared, she saw the most beautiful of all young men. Eros, furious that Psyche had broken her promise, immediately disappeared. The distraught Psyche sought the help of Venus, who set impossible tasks for the young girl who had awakened her jealousy. Psyche's love was so great, however, that she successfully accomplished every task. Meanwhile, Eros was pining away with love for her in his mother's palace. He eventually escaped, found Psyche, and woke her. Realizing the strength of their love, Venus finally gave in and had the young woman taken to the palace of the gods, where she drank ambrosia and nectar and became immortal. Psyche and Eros were at last united and able to enjoy pure and eternal love.