Girod & Fontanez, Geneve, made for the Spanish Market, circa 1900. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, quarter repeating, keyless "grande and petite sonnerie" clockwatch with automaton Jacks. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Hong Kong, Hotel Furama Kempinski, 9th June 1997

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Hong Kong, Hotel Furama Kempinski, Jun 09, 1997

LOT 373

Girod & Fontanez, Geneve, made for the Spanish Market, circa 1900. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, quarter repeating, keyless "grande and petite sonnerie" clockwatch with automaton Jacks.

HKD 240,000 - 270,000

USD 30,000 - 35,000

Sold: HKD 333,500

C. Four body, " bassine et filets", polished, the back with the finely painted champleve enamelled monogram "D.M.". Gold cuvette engraved with technical details and on the border with a floral decoration. D. Small translucent white enamel chapter ring with blue Arabic numerals, blue centre and subsidiary seconds. Gold paste set hands. Applied on the gold dial-plate, two enamelled automaton Jacks dressed as 18th century Royal Guards, strike the hours and quarters on two bells. M. Glazed 23 - , nickel plated, double train with differential winding, 34 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring. Striking hours and quarters on gongs, strike/silent, Grande/Petite sonnerie optional levers and repeating slide in the band. In very good condition. Diam. 69 mm.

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Notes

"Grande and petite sonnerie", quarter repeating watches, made toward the end of the 19th century and the first years of the 20th, are extremely rare, even more so when fitted with automaton jacks. This exceptionally large watch was certainly made upon special request and is therefore almost certainly unique.