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SOTHEBY's Evening Sale of Watches to be held in November
10 Oct '08
5 min read
ROLEX:
Following the success of Rolex wristwatches last May, most notably the sporting models, a selection of fine timepieces made by the famous Swiss brand, ranging from the Daytona to the Submariner, will be included in the sale.
Among them is a stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with registers, accompanied by the original certificate and presentation case, Rolex Daytona Paul Newman, circa 1960; a stainless steel military automatic centre seconds wristwatch, Rolex Submariner, circa 1970; a stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with registers, Rolex Daytona, circa 1970 and a stainless steel automatic centre seconds wristwatch, Rolex Milgauss, circa 1970.
POCKET WATCHES:
In this section are a number of highlights including: a gold pre-balance spring watch with a Blois enamel case decorated with floral motifs, William Clay Fecit, London, Circa 1630, Blois School, 17th Century.
From 1620 to 1640 only the Blois school held the secret of painting on enamel; thus these watches were costly objects and were highly prized.
It is known that Cardinal Jules Mazarin (1602-1661) and Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) gave such watches as handsome presents.
The majority of these watches were decorated with mythological and biblical subjects, very few with flowers. Blois became famous all over Europe for its enamellers and watchmakers from England, Switzerland and Holland sent their movements to be cased in Blois.
AUTOMATON AND ENAMEL WATCHES “FROM THE COLLECTION OF A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR”:
Mainly composed of automaton and ornamental watches from the middle of the 19th century, the selection of watches from a European Collector includes a gold rectangular singing bird box in the shape of a snuff box set with rubies and emeralds, Frères Rochat, Genève, circa 1820.
Master watchmakers from Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, the Rochat Brothers (Francois Elysee, Frederic and Samuel Henri), sons of David Rochat, moved to Geneva and went into business on their own.
Providing ebauches for singing bird mechanisms at the end of the 18th century for Jacquet Droz and Leschot, the family name Rochat was well known in the making of complicated automaton pieces.
Their specialization in creating singing bird boxes had established their reputation. The extreme complication and very small size of the mechanism of the singing bird box included in this sale the bird opens its beak and turns its head when singing is a true example of Frères Rochat's craftsmanship.
Another examples of high craftsmanship in the world of watches included in the collection is a gold and painted enamel single hand pendant watch, case attributed to Huaud, Geneva, circa 1680.
Huaud was the best known and most prolific family of enamel painters of its time. The father, Pierre Huaud I (1612 -1680), was a protestant who moved to Geneva, where he became a habitant in 1630.
He finished his apprenticeship as a goldsmith with Laurent Légaré in 1634 and soon after became Master Goldsmith. His three sons Pierre, Jean-Pierre, Ami became enamel painters as well. The Brandenburg Elector in Berlin was one of their clients.
Following the success of Rolex wristwatches last May, most notably the sporting models, a selection of fine timepieces made by the famous Swiss brand, ranging from the Daytona to the Submariner, will be included in the sale.
Among them is a stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with registers, accompanied by the original certificate and presentation case, Rolex Daytona Paul Newman, circa 1960; a stainless steel military automatic centre seconds wristwatch, Rolex Submariner, circa 1970; a stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with registers, Rolex Daytona, circa 1970 and a stainless steel automatic centre seconds wristwatch, Rolex Milgauss, circa 1970.
POCKET WATCHES:
In this section are a number of highlights including: a gold pre-balance spring watch with a Blois enamel case decorated with floral motifs, William Clay Fecit, London, Circa 1630, Blois School, 17th Century.
From 1620 to 1640 only the Blois school held the secret of painting on enamel; thus these watches were costly objects and were highly prized.
It is known that Cardinal Jules Mazarin (1602-1661) and Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) gave such watches as handsome presents.
The majority of these watches were decorated with mythological and biblical subjects, very few with flowers. Blois became famous all over Europe for its enamellers and watchmakers from England, Switzerland and Holland sent their movements to be cased in Blois.
AUTOMATON AND ENAMEL WATCHES “FROM THE COLLECTION OF A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR”:
Mainly composed of automaton and ornamental watches from the middle of the 19th century, the selection of watches from a European Collector includes a gold rectangular singing bird box in the shape of a snuff box set with rubies and emeralds, Frères Rochat, Genève, circa 1820.
Master watchmakers from Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, the Rochat Brothers (Francois Elysee, Frederic and Samuel Henri), sons of David Rochat, moved to Geneva and went into business on their own.
Providing ebauches for singing bird mechanisms at the end of the 18th century for Jacquet Droz and Leschot, the family name Rochat was well known in the making of complicated automaton pieces.
Their specialization in creating singing bird boxes had established their reputation. The extreme complication and very small size of the mechanism of the singing bird box included in this sale the bird opens its beak and turns its head when singing is a true example of Frères Rochat's craftsmanship.
Another examples of high craftsmanship in the world of watches included in the collection is a gold and painted enamel single hand pendant watch, case attributed to Huaud, Geneva, circa 1680.
Huaud was the best known and most prolific family of enamel painters of its time. The father, Pierre Huaud I (1612 -1680), was a protestant who moved to Geneva, where he became a habitant in 1630.
He finished his apprenticeship as a goldsmith with Laurent Légaré in 1634 and soon after became Master Goldsmith. His three sons Pierre, Jean-Pierre, Ami became enamel painters as well. The Brandenburg Elector in Berlin was one of their clients.
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