Important Collector's Wristwatches an...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, May 11, 1998

LOT 143

Eberhard & Co., Tazio Nuvolari Rattrapante "Geant", No. 10, made in 1996. Extremely fine and rare, waterproof up to 3 atm., large, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with single round button split-second chronograph, register and tachometers, with natural duramen fitted box and certificate.

USD 13,000 - 15,000

C. polished, screwed back with engraved, the signature of the driver and his tortoise good luck charm symbol, tachometer graduation on the bezel in miles per hour, lapidated lugs. D. black with tritium Arabic numerals + auxiliary seconds and 30 minutes register dials, outer tachometer graduation in km per hour, above the 6, the tortoise charm symbol with the initials in polychrome enamel, sapphire crystal. "Baton" tritium hands. M. 19"' rhodium plated, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial and case signed. Diam. 50 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-51

As new

Partially reprinted

Notes

This watch is No. 10 of a limited series of 12 examples produced by Eberhard, and was completed in 1996. Tazio Nuvolari was a famous car-racing pilot of the 1930's. In 1931, he was the "most expensive" of the Italian racers (280 000 Lire). On 17 April 1932, Nuvolari won "Le Grand Prix de Monaco" on his Alpha Romeo, preceeding Rudolf Caracciola. He was considered the fastest and the most brilliant pilot of the moment. Shortly before he won the "Grand Prix de l'ACF " in Reims with a medium speed of 148,568 km per hour. On 18 May 1933, the team Sonuner-Nuvolari won at "Les 24 Herres du Mans". On 6 August 1933, in the same month as the creation of "Air France", Nuvolari won at the "Grand Prix de Nice" with a medium speed of 103,916 km per hour. Tazio Nuvolari is mentioned in The Guinness Book of Records 1998, as beeing the eldest victorious car-racer, having won the "Grand Prix de France" in Albi on 14 July 1946, at the age of 53 years and 292 days old, well before the birth of the official World Championship.