Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2008

LOT 63

Ulysse Nardin, No. 2144. Made circa 1980. Fine, nickel-cased keyless pocket watch. To be sold without reserve

HKD 9,000 - 13,000

USD 1,200 - 1,700 / EUR 700 - 1,000

Sold: HKD 11,520

C. Three-body, "bassine et filets", polished, transparent back. D. White, blue radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blue lacquered spade hands. M. Cal. 20.1, rhodium plated, 19 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring with terminal curve, swan-neck micrometric regulator. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

What is a split-seconds chronograph?
Asplit-seconds chronograph, or 'rattrapante', is a type of chronograph watch with two coaxial superimposed center-seconds hands that are controlled by two push-buttons. One push-button controls the split-seconds hand to stop or join the chronograph hand. The other push-buttons control both hands and all the chronograph functions. The chronograph and split-seconds hands are used for timing several events that start simultaneously, but are of different durations. To operate the split-seconds chronograph, both hands are started and remain superimposed. Then at the end of the first duration, the split-seconds hand can be stopped while the chronograph hand continues to move. The duration of the first event can be read. After recording, the split-seconds hand can be released to instantly move and join the chronograph hand, synchronizing with it and thus being ready for another recording. At the end of each event the hands then can be stopped and returned to zero. The split-seconds chronograph, in its present form, was first introduced in 1880. Split-seconds chronograph wristwatches came on the market circa 1922 by Patek Philippe (the first known wristwatch of this kind was Patek Philippe No. 124824, case no. 235326, which was sold by Antiquorum as lot 448 on November 14, 1999 for US $1,918,387, which was at the time the highest price ever realized for a wristwatch at auction). This timepiece appeared five years prior to the official release of the split-seconds chronograph, making Patek Philippe the first manufacture to create this complication in a wristwatch. As they require a highly complicated and technical mechanism, these watches are desirable, very collectible and extremely difficult to produce accounting for their rarity.