Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 13, 2012

LOT 27

MOULINIE TWO-COLOR GOLD GRANULATION & EMERALD QUARTER REPEATING WATCH Moulinie Frères & Cie à Genève. Made circa 1830. Very fine and rare, quarter-repeating, 18K two-color gold, emerald-set, granulation decorated pocket watch.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

USD 22,000 - 33,000 / EUR 17,000 - 25,000

C. Four-body, entirely decorated with graduated granulation forming scrolls within 12 segments, set with graduated emeralds, bezel en suite with emeralds and applied granulations. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Gold, with polished radial Roman numerals on a matte chapter ring, outer polished minute track, engine-turned center, outer border with applied varicolored gold foliage. Gilt spade hands. M. 30 mm, frosted gilt, standing barrel, cylinder escapement with three-arm gold balance, fl at balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a pull-and-twist piston in the pendant. Diam. 43 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is a particularly fi ne example of the granulation technique of decoration, and has been preserved in good condition. Granulation, a technique using tiny beads of gold, was employed - and probably invented - by the ancient Etruscans, who created jewelry which was highly sought-after throughout the Mediterranean. Most watches using this method employed a technique in which ready-to-apply gold beads were soldered onto the surface, thereby forming the desired pattern.