Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 312

"Flower Bouquet - 1/4 Seconds Foudroyante" Fleurier. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1870. Fine, rare and very unusual, silver-gilt, painted on enamel and split pearl-set pocket watch with dead center seconds, 1/4 second diablotine and unusual escapement. Accompanied by an engraved Chinese embroidered case.

HKD 80,000 - 100,000

USD 11,000 - 13,000 / EUR 8,000 - 10,000

Sold: HKD 129,800

C. Three-body, "Empire", the bezel, pendant and bow set with split-pearls, the back cover set with a painted on enamel panel of flowers on a mustard-colored ground, split-pearl-set border, reeded band. Glazed gilt-rimmed cover fixed to the movement ring. D. White enamel with narrow radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds track and Arabic fifteen minute/second numerals, subsidiary 1/4 seconds diablotine. Blued steel "quatrefoil" hands. M. 48 mm., frosted gilt, fully engraved, "Chinese" caliber, standing barrel, 8 jewels, escapement with four leafed escape wheel, virgule-type impulse arm, bimetallic balance with blued steel wings, flat balance spring, index regulator. Diam. 57 mm. Property of a European Gentleman


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-61

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-59-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

It is extremely unusual to find a watch for the Chinese market with diablotine seconds and also dead center seconds. The escapement is composed of a four-toothed escape wheel, the pivot of which directly drives the diablotine hand, the escape wheel acts upon an impluse arm similar to that used in the virgule escapement.