Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 496

ULYSSE NARDIN TELLURIUM NO. 50 Ulysse Nardin, "Tellurium Johannes Kepler", No. 50, Ref. 871-99. Made in a limited edition of 99 examples in 1992, sold on June 21st, 1993. Very rare and unusual, astronomic, waterresistant, two time zone, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with moon phases, signs of the Zodiac, eclipses of the sun and the moon, 24 hours, and a cloisonne dial with view of the Earth as seen from the North Pole, with an 18K yellow gold Ulysse Nardin buckle. Accompanied by an Ulysse Nardin fitted wooden box, Certificate and booklet.

C. Three-body, solid, polished, rounded bezel engraved with Arabic numerals for the hours and 4 blue enamel tabs with Roman numerals at the quarter hours, transparent case back, stepped lugs, sapphire crystals. D. Blue cloisonné enamel on gold central disc depicting the continents, surrounding yellow gold ring with engraved Arabic numerals for the 24 hours of a second time zone. Spring overlapping central disc, bending according to various times of the year, separating the portion of the Earth lit by the sun from the portion in darkness, and indicating sunrise and sunset. Outer ring with names of the months and 12 signs of the Zodiac. Rotating moon representing its phases. Dragon head and tail hand indicating month and Zodiac signs, respectively. Two luminous yellow gold fl oating fl anges indicate hours and minutes. M. Cal. UN-87, hand-engraved, 64 jewels, rhodium-plated, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating fl at balance spring, hand-engraved and skeletonized white gold rotor. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 43 mm. Thickness 15 mm.