Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006
LOT 134
"The Swiss Guard" Gübelin, Lucerne, No. 58506. Made circa 1910. Very fine and extremely rare, 8-day going, silver-gilt, painted on enamel, ivory and agate mystery table clock.
HKD 250,000 - 350,000
USD 32,000 - 45,000 / EUR 26,000 - 36,000
Sold: HKD 295,000
C. Dodecahedral, silver-gilt laurel borders, faceted agate body, raised on four lion's paw feet. D. Off-white enamel
chapter ring with pale blue radial Roman numerals, flowerhead half-hour and minute markers, Arabic five minute
numerals, the center with a mirror to simulate water and a carved ivory swan, its beak indicating the hours,
painted ivory figure of a Swiss guard standing on a central translucent blue guilloché enamel and white painted
pedestal and holding a silver halberd indicating the minutes. M. 59 mm., frosted gilt, three-quarter plate, 15
jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with three adjustments, blued steel
Breguet balance spring, index regulator.
Case and movement signed.
Diam. 12.5 cm. Height 18 cm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2 |
Very good |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
He first advertised as a watchmaker, and as business grew, Breitschmid brought on his son-in-law, Jacques- Edouard Gübelin, as a partner. Gübelin eventually took over the company. He introduced jeweled watches and jewelry to the business in 1921 at the opening of their New York branch, after collaborating with the jeweler Edmond Frisch.
Gübelin also opened branches in St. Moritz, Zurich, Geneva, Berne, Lugano, and Basel. Gübelin?s sons eventually entered the family business; his eldest son, Dr. Edouard Gübelin, opened a lab of gemmology and made a name for himself internationally, while his youngest son, Walter, was drawn toward artistic expression and contributed to the company through his creative designs. This successful company has created superior quality clocks and watches for more than a century.
The present clock was previously in the collection of the Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois. It is the only mystery clock known to date to have been made by Gübelin with this type of hour and minute indication. The minutes are indicated by the Swiss Guard?s halberd, and the hours by the ivory swan?s beak.