Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 322

La Madone du Duc d?Albe Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 332386, case No. 201154, made and sold in 1905. Extremely fine 18K gold and painted on enamel, keyless fob watch accompanied by matching chain and original certificate.

CHF 60,000 - 70,000

EUR 41,000 - 48,000 / USD 36,000 - 42,000

Sold: CHF 108,000

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, back finely painted on enamel with a scene depicting The Virgin with the Child and St. John the Baptist sitting in a meadow, after the ?Madone du duc d?Albe? painted by Raphael circa 1510, the borders, band and bezel chased in a fleur de lis pattern, gold hinged cuvette, chain formed of long rectangular gold panels with dark translucent blue enamel over engine-turning joined by gold diamond-set links. D. Silver, champlevé blue Arabic numerals, blue outer minute ring, center engraved with floral pattern, engine-turned outer border. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 11???, caliber RA11, rhodium-plated, 16 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, flat balance spring. Signed on dial, case and movement. Diam. 34 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The painted on enamel scene of this watch is inspired by a well-known painting by Raphael, today in the National Gallery of Art in Washington. It is called ?The Madonna of the Duke of Alba? because at the end of the 18th century, it was in the collection of the Duke of Alba in Madrid, before being acquired by the Czar Nicholas I in 1836. Rafael?s work has always been universally appreciated for its beauty and grace - in 1786, Goethe remarked ?Raphael has always succeeded in doing what others dreamed of?- and circulated among art-lovers in the form of engravings. This watch was no doubt based on one of these.