Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 323

Dent, Watchmaker to the King, 61 Strand & 4 Royal Exchange, London, No. 51991, hallmarked 1901-02.Very fine 18K gold and enamel keyless minute-repeating watch with chronograph and 60-minute register.

CHF 13,500 - 16,500

EUR 9,000 - 11,000

Sold: CHF 11,500

C. Four-body, solid, "demi-bassine", back with elaborate ena-meled initials, gold hinged cuvette, band with milled slot for the slide. D. Off-white, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, outermost chronograph scale, subsidiary sunk seconds, sunk minute register at 12 o'clock. Blued steel "spade" hands.M. 44 mm. (19 1/2'''), frosted gilt, 24 jewels, lateral lever escapement with lift on the pallets, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet double overcoiled balance spring, cock with diamond endstone, Nicole Nielsen chronograph work set on the back plate, repeating on gongs, slide on the band.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Our records show that the Dent watch with the preceding serial number scored highly in the 1903 Kew Observatory Contest in the category of complicated watches. Given the present watch's double overcoil, usually reserved for watches destined for Observatory trials, it is very likely that it also took part in an Observatory trial, although the records of this have not been found.