Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

LOT 89

"Niello Pivoted Detent Chronometer" Swiss, No. 1892, retailed by M. French & Son, Royal Exchange, London. Made circa 1900. Fine, large, nielloed silver and gold, keyless pocket chronometer with pivoted detent escapement and 24-hour dial.

C. Four-body, "demi-bassine", the bezel and band decorated with leaves and berries, the back cover with a foliate monogram within an ivy-leaf border, gold hinges, thumb-piece, collar and bow. Hinged silver cuvette.
D. Off-white enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, red 24-hour numerals, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "spade" hands.
M. 43 mm., 19''', rhodium-plated, "fausses-cotes" and "oeil de perdrix" decoration, 13 jewels, four in screwed gold chatons, wolf's tooth winding, gold wheel train, Earnshaw type pivoted detent escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel helical balance spring, index regulator. Dial and cuvette signed by the retailer. Diam. 56 mm.