Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 367

Unsigned, Swiss, by Emile Quartier or La Tente as he was also known, Les Brenets, Canton of Neuchatel, made for the South American Market, circa 1860. Very fine and almost certainly unique 18K gold hunting cased watch with unusual calibre.

CHF 8,000 - 10,000

Sold: CHF 11,730

C. Four body, massive "bassine et filets" , engineturned with engraved band, the back centred with a basket of exotic fruits engraved en reserve, the cover with the coat-of-arms of Columbia. Engine-turned inside and decorated with fine engraved scenes, depicting "The Education of Bacchus " inside the cover, a scene of an abduction, drawn from the Decameron, inside the back. Hinged gold cuvette. D.White enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute ring and sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold paste-set hands. M. 23"', frosted and gilt, bar calibre with going barrel, fully engraved with foliage decoration, the bridged featuring: a whale, a wild goose, a Cupid, a bat, and a figure of Poseidon, 17 jewels, swan neck Swiss lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring. Diam. 63 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: B

Fair
Case: 5

Poor
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 21-36-51

Period

Partially re-gilt

Partially reprinted

Notes

Apparently handmade from the rough, this movement is almost certainly unique. The bridges of the movement and the biblical scenes, inside the cover and back, were engraved using the eau forte technique which is very rarely used in horology. Accompanied by a letter from the vendor in which he states that this watch was Emile Quartier ' s Master piece and never sold. The Watch remained in the family until the present vendor purchased it in 1996.