Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Grand Havana Room, New York, Sep 20, 2001

LOT 75

Gold RoskopfRoskopf Patent, Swiss, circa 1890.Fine and very unusual, 18K gold, keyless, hunting-cased pocket watch with a special escapement, made for the Indian market.

USD 3,500 - 4,500

C. four-body, "bassine et filets", the front cover with an applied gold horseman jumping a fence, surrounded by floral and foliate engraving, the back cover with an engraved horse's head against a foliate and floral background, fully engraved gold hinged cuvette. D. white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring with red five-minute Arabic markers. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 42 mm ø (18 1/2'''), nickeled, damascened in a rosette pattern, 12 jewels, lateral pin-pallet lever escapement, cut bimetalic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, pin-set.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 11 - 01

Notes

Georges-Frédéric Roskopf (1813-1889) dreamed of "providing the working classes with an accurate watch at a reasonable price". He succeeded splendidly and obtained a bronze medal at the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris. His watches sold for 20 francs. He employed a number of new ideas, among others one borrowed from Adrien Philippe of the Patek Philippe company, who invented the so-called "free" spring. Roskopf acquired a license and paid 25 centimes to Patek Philippe for each watch he employedwith a "free" mainspring. Roskopf patented his invention everywhere but in Switzerland and soon after 1868 a number of Swiss manufactures started making "Roskopf Patent watches". These watches, in gold cases, with compensation balance, Breguet balance-spring, and train jeweled up to the third wheel, are extremely rare.