Contemporary, Limited Edition and Mod...

New York, Park Lane Hotel, Dec 15, 1998

LOT 477

Patek Philippe & Cie., Geneve, No. 23953, made in 1863. Very fine and important 18K gold, diamond-set historical ring watch, in original fitted box, sold on 26 August 1871 by a Patek Philippe retailer to Queen Victoria to be presented to a member of the Du Pont de Nemours family.

USD 15,000 - 18,000

Sold: USD 46,000

C. Two piece, the bezel set with 30 rose-cut diamonds. D. White enamel with Roman numerals. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 7"', gilt brass, bar calibre with going barrel, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gilt brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Diam. 23 mm. Accompanied by Extract from the Archives.


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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

Notes

The Du Pont de Nemours were an eminent French family, whose name was originally spelt somewhat differently. An important member of the family, who played an important role in French politics in the 1780's-90's and again at the beginning of the 19th century, was the French economist Pierre Samuel Dupont de Nemours, who was born in Paris in 1739, son of a watchmaker. As State Councillor, he was in charge of Foreign Trade Relations and prepared the treaty for the The United States Emancipation in 1783, as well as the Trade Treaty with England in 1786. Due to a changing political situation, unfavourable to him, he emigrated to America in 1797, together with his two sons, and lived in Delaware, New Jersey. On Jefferson's request, he set out the project for American National Education in 1802 but returned to France that same year where he was named President of the Chamber of Commerce. Named secretary to the provisional government in 1814, he returned to America for good on Napoleon's return in 1815. Pierre Samuel Dupont de Nemours died in Eleutherian Mills, Delaware, in 1817. Pierre Samuel's son, French chemist and industrialist, Eleuthere h' nee Du Pont de Nemours, (Paris 1771- Philadelphia 1834), founded in 1802, in Wilmington, Delaware, a chemical factory which later became the very powerful Du Pont de Nemours & Co. It was one of his descendants, Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours (1870-1954), who strongly developed the business which evolved into an important company of chemical products and man-made textiles. To Du Pont de Nemours & Co. we owe the discovery of D.D.T. and Nylon. What started as a small family business is today the largest producer of chemical products in The United States, and, in the world, is second only to Unilever.