Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
New York - The Fuller Building, Dec 07, 2006
LOT 311
?Planetarium Copernicus? Ulysse Nardin, Le Locle, Suisse, "Planetarium Copernicus", No. 024, Ref. 801-22. Made in the 1990s. Very fine and unusual, astronomic, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with functions of the planetary cycle, days, months, zodiac signs and moon phases, with an 18K yellow gold Ulysse Nardin bracelet.
USD 28,000 - 32,000
EUR 22,000 - 25,000
C. Three-body, solid, polished, cylindrical lugs, stepped rounded bezel with engraved radial Roman numerals for the 12 hours, transparent back, gold screwed bars, domed sapphire crystal divided into 12 sections that start from the center (the Earth) and radiate outward in a spider design. D. Six revolving meteorite rings engraved with the names of 5 planets, each on a gold cartouche fixed with a central disc representing the Sun; the Earth disc fixed to one of the meteorite rings attached to the Moon which rotates around the Earth, outer gold ring engraved with the 12 signs of the zodiac and the months. Yellow gold "bâton" hands. M. Cal. UN 80, gilt, hand-engraved, 33 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, selfcompensating flat balance spring, white gold decorated and skeletonized rotor. Case signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx. overall length 180 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
Son of Leonard Nardin, Ulysse (1823-1876) was an apprentice to William Dubois, who was considered one of the foremost chronometer makers of this time. In 1846, he founded the famous firm in the canton of Neuchâtel. Up to 1957, the manufacture won no fewer than 3884 Observatory of Neuchâtel prizes, including 1631 First Prizes. In 1861 the firm began a long series of participations in the chronometry competition held annually by the observatory and, a few years later, Paul-David Nardin used to be the timer of the Tourbillon chronometers that were entered in the contests. In 1862, the firm was awarded a Prize Medal at the Universal Exhibition in London and also won the only Gold Medal awarded at the International Adjusting Competition held in Geneva in 1876. During this year, Ulysse Nardin died and Paul- David took the succession of his father as the head of the firm.He was one of the first to collaborate with Dr. Ch.-E. Guillaume in the development and use of his intégral balance, and of Elinvar as a balance spring material for monometallic balances. The firm created by Ulysse Nardin became the largest maker of marine chronometers in Switzerland. Paul- David Nardin was, in his turn, succeeded by two more generations of the family.