Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 65

?Ultra Thin, 1.61 mm? Vaucher a Geneve. Made circa 1850. Fine and extremely rare, 18K gold ultra thin pocket watch with bagnolet caliber and eccentric dial. Fitted into a silver Belgian Leopold I, 5 Franc coin dated 1850.

CHF 22,000 - 27,000

EUR 14,000 - 18,000 / USD 18,000 - 22,000

C. Three-body, ultra thin, engine turned, milled band. Silver fitted outer case made from a real coin, the spring loaded cover, push-piece in the band. D. Small, silver, eccentric with radial Roman numerals and outer minute track. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. 10???, gilt brass, 8 jewels, inverted bagnolet caliber with free-standing barrel and wheel train sunk into the single plate, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator, female winding squares. Movement signed. Diam. Of the coin: 37 mm.Diam. Of the watch: 29 mm. Thickness of the watch: 2 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-6

Good

Slightly oxidized
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

To create such a slim watch was a remarkable achievement at the time, when the components were entirely hand-made. Very few such watches are known; this one is in very good condition and has its original case. Watches completely fitted into gold or silver coins are extremely rare, and are among the slimmest ever made. Some are illustrated by E. Jaquet and A. Chapuis in ?Technique and History of the Swiss Watch?, Olten, Switzerland, 1953, pl. 101. Bagnolet Caliber The movement is inverted and the escapement and wheel train are concealed between the dial plate and the single plate. Philippe Samuel Meylan is credited with its invention. The present lot was previously sold by Antiquorum Geneva, on April 18 1998, lot 66.