Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, May 10, 2020

LOT 226

Pavel Buhre (Paul Buhré) - Historical Imperial presentation pocket watch, minute-repeater; 18K pink gold and enamel

HKD 100,000 - 120,000

USD 12,900 - 15,400 / EUR 12,000 - 14,400 / CHF 12,900 - 15,400

18K pink gold and enamel, hunting-case, keyless-winding, round-shaped, Imperial presentation pocket watch made for the Russian market, with subsidiary seconds at 6 and one horological complication: • Minute-repeater on two steel gongs (activated by the slide at 6 o’clock). Cover and case-back guilloché (engine-turned); the cover engraved and black champlevé enamelled with the coat-of-arms of the Russian Empire. Inside cover engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut) with the mention in Cyrillic letters “Graciously offered to the artist of the French Company of the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg, L. Guitri / 1890”. “Gracieusement offert à l’artiste de la Compagnie française des théâtres impériaux de Saint-Pétersbourg, L. Guitri / 1890”. Movement 19’’’, rhodium-plated, with going barrel, gold screwed-chaton (setting) on the central wheel, straight-line equilibrated lever escapement, cut compensated balance and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 *
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Paul Buhre, St. Petersburg and Le Locle

Model “Supplier to Her Majesty’s Court”

Year circa 1890

Movement No. 2 026

Case No. 2 026

Material 18K pink gold and enamel

Diameter 53.8 mm.

Caliber 19’’’, lever escapement

Signature case and movement

Notes

It is extremely rare to find this type of watch in 18K gold because most of the gold watches made for the Russian market or made in Russia were made in 14K gold. Only the most important watches had this titling, which is often found on watches with horological complication/s.
This watch is all the more interesting because it was offered by the Imperial crown to Lucien Guitry (1860-1925), the greatest theatre actor of his time.
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Presentation Watch
A presentation watch is a watch offered by, or on its behalf, by a ruler / leader (Emperor, King, President, Prime Minister, Company Director, etc.) as an acknowledgment or thanks to a third person.
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Pavel Buhre (Paul Buhré)
The firm was established by Carl Buhre in 1815 in St. Petersburg. His son Paul entered the business and by 1874 the company had acquired a large watch manufactory in Le Locle, Switzerland. In 1899, the company was given the Imperial warrant to supply the Czar and his family with watches for themselves and for presentation. Between 1887 and 1917 the office of the Emperor bought around 15 000 watches and the name of Pavel Buhre became synonymous with the watches of Czarist Russia, even Anton Chekhov mentions Buhre’s name several times in his literature. The Buhre company dominated the supply of watches to Russia and at one time held over 50% of the market in ordinary watches. The complicated watches for rich customers were specially ordered in Switzerland. The company won medals at National and International exhibitions including a silver medal in Paris 1889 and gold medal in Paris 1900. Czar Nicholas II wore a gold watch by Pavel Buhre and this, along with a silver marine watch, were found amongst his possessions after his execution in 1917. The revolution effectively ended the business of Pavel Buhre although the seized watches and parts continued to be used by the Soviets including Stalin and Khrushchev.

Biography

Guitry, Lucien
Paris, December 13, 1860 – Paris, June 1st, 1925
Lucien Germain Guitry is considered the greatest actor of his time, the male equal of Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), with whom he played regularly; he created outstanding roles that brought him repeated international triumphs.
In 1885, he was engaged in the permanent troupe at the French Theatre in St. Petersburg, the famous Michel (or Mikhaylovsky) Theatre. As a resident, he signed for nine winter seasons from 1882 to 1891. While in the Russian capital, he associated with the intellectual elite, becoming close friends with Pyotr Ilytch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Russian composer, and his brother Modest Ilytch Tchaikovsky (1850-1926), Russian dramatist, opera librettist and translator.
Known for his numerous successes with women, Lucien Guitry is the father of playwright and actor Alexandre “Sacha” Guitry (1885-1957), born in Russia and named in honour of his godfather the Czar Alexander III.