Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 9

?Beautiful Ladies? Léo Juvet, Shanghai, No. 304146 & attributed to Léo Juvet, Shanghai. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1875. Very fine, matched pair of silver painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watches with center seconds. Accompanied by a box and keys.

HKD 55,000 - 70,000

USD 7,000 - 9,000 / EUR 5,600 - 7,200

Sold: HKD 76,700

C.Two-body, ?Consular?, back cover decorated with a finely painted portrait of a young lady in a powdered wig with a garland of roses and a pale blue dress, the portrait surrounded by dark blue translucent enamel over wavy-line engine-turning, the second watch decorated with a lady with long flowing hair with violets and a white-edged yellow dress, the bezels set with split-pearls. Spring-loaded, gilded and glazed cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions and fifteen minute Arabic numerals. Blued steel 'ovoid' hands. M. 47 mm (21??), gilded and entirely foliate engraved, ?Chinese? caliber, 16 jewels, free-standing barrel, counterpoised lateral lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance, monometallic balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. The first movement signed Juvet in Chinese characters. The second watch case with faux English hallmarks. Diam. 55 & 56 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

For a discussion of watches made for the Chinese market, see pages 196 - 201. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) First established his workshop in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved to Fleurier. He began making "Chinese" watches in 1856. Edouard?s sons Ami-Louis and Léo traveled to China to work in the family firm. When Ami-Louis died there, Léo (1848-1891) took his place. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet the two families maintained friendly relations. The Maison Juvet prospered, opening branches in Tien-Tsin and Saigon, to the extent that in 1872 Léo wrote : "Our watches sell like salt". In 1873, Edouard Juvet registered a trademark in Chinese characters which was used on the company?s products. He granted his son Léo power of attorney in November 1875, and after his death in February 1883, Léo succeeded him at the head of the firm. Literature: ?La montre Chinoise?, Alfred Chapuis.