Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 12, 1996

LOT 643

J. Bellette, London, with London hallmarks for 1700. Magnificent and unique 22K gold and enamel, digital "montre a guichet" made for Charles XII of Sweden.

CHF 200,000 - 300,000

C. Double body outer, the bezel with champleve painted enamel crowns and branches, the back centered with the Royal coat-of-arms with the 49 coat-of-arms of all the Swedish provinces. Plain inner bassine, polished with split-bezel and loosering pendant, winding hole shutter on the back. D. Gold, chased with masks and foliage on a matted ground, black enamelled decoration and apertures for hour and minute volvelles with gold inlaid blued steel shutters. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with gilt brass elaborated pillars chased on the Royal Crown design, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, English cock pierced and engraved with the crowned monogram of the king, military trophies on the foot, the border engraved with the motto: Carolus Duodecimus Viva/. Floreat Triumphat. Digital hours and minutes are disclosed by springloaded shutters, by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial shutters and the back plate In very good condition. Diam. 54 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Notes

Besides the Royal provenance-demonstrated by both the case decoration, the monogram and the motto on the cock-this watch presents a most unusual feature for the time it was made. The digital hours and minutes, engraved on gold volvelles, are disclosed by the spring loaded shutters when the pendant is depressed. This way of displaying the ti me is most unique for the period. J. Bellete, a French Huguenot is recorded by Tardy as an emigrant in London, where he made in 1700 the watch for Charles XII, King of Sweden.