Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Jun 02, 2007

LOT 307

?The Leopard Mysterieuse? Graff. Made in the 1980s. Extremely fine and magnificent, 18K gold, silver-gilt and black onyx mystery clock set with turquoise, jade, emeralds, mother of pearl, smoky quartz and 1150 diamonds weighing approximately 150 carats. Accompanied by a Graff fitted box and key.

HKD 1,500,000 - 2,000,000

USD 200,000 - 265,000 / EUR 150,000 - 200,000

C. Octagonal set with leaf-shaped panels of turquoise and jade within a mother of pearl border and gold framework, similarly inlaid stylised leaf- column base raised on a rectangular mother of pearl and diamond-set plinth with two gold, diamond and onyx set sculptural leopards with emerald eyes, above a bombe black onyx base. D. Transparent faceted smoky quartz, diamond set bezel and diamond set Roman quarterhour numerals. Diamond and turquoise-set ?Loti-form? hands with no apparent connection to the movement. M. 45 mm., circular, brass, turned pillars, going barrel, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, rack regulator. Case signed. Dim. 30 x 16.5 x 11.5 cm. Property of a Japanese Gentleman


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The mystery clock has fascinated connoiseurs from the moment the first examples made by Robert Houdin appeared in the 19th century. However, it was the firm of Cartier who used the idea and their excellence as jewelers to produce some of the most fabulous examples. This mystery clock by Graff continues the tradition of fine mystery clocks combining technical virtuosity with exotic design. The hands are each mounted on a crystal disc with toothed border set between the two halves of the smoky quartz crystal, which gives the effect of the hands ?floating? in what appears to be a solid piece of smoky quartz. The teeth mesh with an endless screw pinion driven from the movement in the base.