Swiss center seconds lever for the Chinese market Circa 1870
- Kenmerk
- CH0829
- Diameter
- 57 mm
- Estimate
- € 20.000 - 35.000
- Price sold
- € 33.000
Silver gilt, enamel and pearl set open faced lever by Bovet
–
A fine, rare and attractive Swiss silver gilt, enamel and pearl set open faced center seconds lever watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1870. Mirror polished steel keywound movement, lateral lever escapement with horn shaped ending. Hinged glazed display cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals and center seconds. Large case, pearl set bezel, rim, pendant and bow, polychrome enamel scene depicting a lion hunt to the back. Case stamped with Bovet’s Chinese signature, movement signed, rim of case back and cuvette numbered 3217.
–
Diameter: 57 mm
–
Signed: Bovet.Fleurier
–
From their first arrival in China around 1700, lavishly decorated watches manufactured for the Far East took incontestably a prominent position in the league of the most sumptuous timepieces ever made, highly coveted treasures, guarded like gold by their fortunate owners ever since.
–
By the late 18th century, Chinese patrons requested only superlative watches, featuring finely decorated movements and also complications including repeating, music or automatons. To satisfy their desire for aesthetics, the cases had to be finely enamelled with motifs representing nature or classical scenes, set with pearls and precious stones. Many of these marvels were made for the Imperial Palace in Beijing where they can be admired still today.
–
Often lost over the centuries and in particular during the tumultuous times in China, notably the first opium war in 1840 followed by the occupation of Beijing, the second opium war and the abdication of the last Emperor in 1912, to name just some, the appearance of a single ‘survivor’ of this extremely scarce species is always greeted enthusiastically by the connoisseurs.
–
The present timepiece was serviced in a most professional manner between 1961 and 1962 by the celebrated watchmaker Louis Cottier of Carouge, Geneva, best known for his invention of the world time system.
–
A fine, rare and attractive Swiss silver gilt, enamel and pearl set open faced center seconds lever watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1870. Mirror polished steel keywound movement, lateral lever escapement with horn shaped ending. Hinged glazed display cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals and center seconds. Large case, pearl set bezel, rim, pendant and bow, polychrome enamel scene depicting a lion hunt to the back. Case stamped with Bovet’s Chinese signature, movement signed, rim of case back and cuvette numbered 3217.
–
Diameter: 57 mm
–
Signed: Bovet.Fleurier
–
From their first arrival in China around 1700, lavishly decorated watches manufactured for the Far East took incontestably a prominent position in the league of the most sumptuous timepieces ever made, highly coveted treasures, guarded like gold by their fortunate owners ever since.
–
By the late 18th century, Chinese patrons requested only superlative watches, featuring finely decorated movements and also complications including repeating, music or automatons. To satisfy their desire for aesthetics, the cases had to be finely enamelled with motifs representing nature or classical scenes, set with pearls and precious stones. Many of these marvels were made for the Imperial Palace in Beijing where they can be admired still today.
–
Often lost over the centuries and in particular during the tumultuous times in China, notably the first opium war in 1840 followed by the occupation of Beijing, the second opium war and the abdication of the last Emperor in 1912, to name just some, the appearance of a single ‘survivor’ of this extremely scarce species is always greeted enthusiastically by the connoisseurs.
–
The present timepiece was serviced in a most professional manner between 1961 and 1962 by the celebrated watchmaker Louis Cottier of Carouge, Geneva, best known for his invention of the world time system.
Signed: Bovet.Fleurier
Share this page:
