Very fine and rare Swiss complicated clock watch Circa 1895
- Kenmerk
- SB0567
- Diameter
- 57 mm
- Estimate
- € 25.000 - 50.000
- Price sold
- € 33.200
Grande sonnerie perpetual calendar chronograph for the Indian market
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A very fine and rare 18 carat gold hunting cased Grande Sonnerie perpetual calendar chronograph clock watch with equestrian motif made for the Indian market, attributed to L.E. Piguet, circa 1895. Highly jeweled nickel lever movement, some jewels carried in screwed gold chatons. White enamel dial with hairlines, Roman numerals, four subsidiary dials indicating month combined with leap year indication, date, subsidiary seconds combined with aperture for moon phases and day in English, outer tracking calibrated for 300 units. Substantial and finely engraved hunting case depicting a stallion encircled by a horse shoe and reins, further bordered by foliate and geometric motifs, the reverse similarly engraved. Movement signed and case numbered.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Signed: No name
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The present watch is an exceptional testament to horological complexity and provenance. Research within the Bombay horological community uncovered that two such watches with identical complications were known locally. The second piece was believed to have been made as a commission for the Nizam of Hyderabad and was later acquired by an accomplished Indian industrialist, the owner of an international conglomerate. This legend seems highly likely, when considering the Nizam’s noted affinity for Swiss watches of the highest quality as well as his passion for race horses. Among his investments in fine automobiles, jewelry and watches, he was also the owner of hundreds of racehorses. In 1868, his father opened Hyderabad Race Club, today one of the most famed race tracks of India. The most distinguished elite of India today continue in their noble pursuit of racing thoroughbred horses.
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Watches made for the Indian market are discussed in detail in E. Jaquet & A. Chapuis, Technique and History of the Swiss Watch, pp. 100, 128-9. The authors write ‘The movements of these (Indian market) watches had every conceivable complication. Men’s watches for wealthy clients of this country were always minute repeaters and other special features were often added to this’.
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The present watch is attributed to Louise-Elisée Piguet (1836-1924), an accomplished watchmaker in Le Brassus, impressing the horological community with his work on complicated movements from the young age of 17.
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Signed: No name
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The present watch is an exceptional testament to horological complexity and provenance. Research within the Bombay horological community uncovered that two such watches with identical complications were known locally. The second piece was believed to have been made as a commission for the Nizam of Hyderabad and was later acquired by an accomplished Indian industrialist, the owner of an international conglomerate. This legend seems highly likely, when considering the Nizam’s noted affinity for Swiss watches of the highest quality as well as his passion for race horses. Among his investments in fine automobiles, jewelry and watches, he was also the owner of hundreds of racehorses. In 1868, his father opened Hyderabad Race Club, today one of the most famed race tracks of India. The most distinguished elite of India today continue in their noble pursuit of racing thoroughbred horses.
–
Watches made for the Indian market are discussed in detail in E. Jaquet & A. Chapuis, Technique and History of the Swiss Watch, pp. 100, 128-9. The authors write ‘The movements of these (Indian market) watches had every conceivable complication. Men’s watches for wealthy clients of this country were always minute repeaters and other special features were often added to this’.
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The present watch is attributed to Louise-Elisée Piguet (1836-1924), an accomplished watchmaker in Le Brassus, impressing the horological community with his work on complicated movements from the young age of 17.
Signed: No name
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