The Art of Horology in Geneva

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999

LOT 4

Marc Grangier, Geneva, circa 1660.Very fine and rare silver and enamel diamond-set, pre-balance spring watch.

CHF 100,000 - 120,000

C. Double body, bassine with split-bezel and loose-ring pendant, the back of turquoise blue enamel with a wreath of black and white foliage enamelled en pate, the central floral motif with high relief, pink and blue enamel petals, enriched with nine table cut diamonds, the inside of the back decorated en suite and centred with a black painted rosette. D. White chapter ring enamelled on copper with Roman numerals and half-hour divisions, the centre of turquoise blue enamel painted with a pink blak and white floral motif. Single blued steel hand. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned baluster pillars, fusee with gut-line, three wheel train with verge escapement, plain two-arm steel balance without spring, irregular oval form cock pierced and engraved with foliage, secured by a screw. Worm-and-wheel set-up and silver regulator disk.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 40 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 21
Movement: * 4
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

ProvenancePreviously in the Hof Collection, this watch is described and illustrated by E. Jaquet and A. Chapuis in Histoire et Technique de la Montre Suisse, 1945, pp. 30-31, pl. 19, as a good example of an early enamelled watch illustrating the close link between the techniques in use both in Geneva and Châtellerault.Marc GrangierAppears to have been active in Châtellerault where in 1629 the son of Martin Duboule was sent to be trained by him. In 1656 Grangier's son reciprocally came to Geneva to be apprenticed in Duboule's workshop. Therefore, first adopted in Limoges and Châtellerault, the technique of enamel decoration en pate, was also used in Geneva by Jean-Baptiste Duboule and Pierre Huaud, l'Ainé, who was also originally from Châtellerault.