Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 76

?Five Hammers? Neuchatel, Swiss, No. 4225. Made for the Italian market circa 1830, retailed by Seb. Carlesi, Livorno. Very fine and exceptionally rare 18K gold, two-train, grande et petite sonnerie clock watch with independent threehammer carillon minute-repeat.

HKD 180,000 - 220,000

USD 25,000 - 30,000 / EUR 18,000 - 22,000

Sold: HKD 330,400

C. Four-body, "bassine", the case back chased and finely engraved with a rococo fountain head flanked by two putti, the bezels, band, and pendant with foliage a floral decoration, hinged gold and enameled cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Gold ?lozenge? hands. M. 23???, frosted gilt, 8 jewels, two standing barrels, cylinder escapement, plain brass balance with flat balance spring, repeating via three hammers on three gongs via plunge in the pendant, sonnerie via two hammers on two gongs, repeat work under the dial, sonnerie train on the back plate, strike silent and grand/petite sonnerie levers protruding through the cuvette. Cuvette signed for the retailer. Case with Neuchatel gold marks. Diam. 56 mm. Property of an Italian 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 present lot is one of very few grande et petite sonnerie clock watches with minute-repeat known from this period. Furthermore the fact that the watch has a total of five hammers striking on five gongs marks it as one of the most important striking and repeating watches of the early 19th century, with the majority of the other pieces being made by Decombaz of Geneva for Breguet.

Sebastiano Carlesi was a watchmaker and merchant active during the first half of the 19th century in Livorno, Italy. He is known for high quality and complicated watches with cases decorated in taille douce and champlevé enamel, as well as grande and petite sonnerie watches.