Swiss musical repeating watch for the Chinese market Circa 1840
- Kenmerk
- AS1810
- Diameter
- 58 mm
- Estimate
- € 15.000 - 30.000
- Price sold
- € 10.550
Unsigned gold and enamel centre seconds pocket watch
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A Swiss gold, enamel, and split pearl-set quarter repeating musical watch playing on the hour or at will with centre seconds and an associated enamel painted scene, made for the Chinese market, circa 1840. The watch features an unsigned gilded movement with separate barrels for the going and musical trains, a cylinder escapement, a plain three-arm balance, repeating on coiled gongs, and music playing on a concealed pinned disc. It also includes a white enamel dial with Roman numerals, an outer Arabic minute ring, gold skeletonized hands, and a gilded centre seconds hand.
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The gold case has split pearl-set bezels and a bow, with the back featuring a later polychrome enamel painted scene of a young couple in a landscape setting, the gentleman offering the lady a caged bird. Additionally, it has a milled gold band, pearl-set bow and pendant, polished cuvette with three apertures for winding trains and hand setting, all with directionals, and a slide for music activation on the case side, as well as a musique/silence lever beneath the cuvette.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Signed: No name
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The movement is not functioning. The music is not working, but there is some intermittent engagement—a few notes are played. The repeating function is not working; the train is wound but not released. The dial has a few small scratches. The case has some surface chipping and lifting of enamel on the left edge beside the dog. Additionally, there are some scuffs and light scratches, and two pearls are missing from the front bezel. There are also spurious hallmarks on the inside case back and cuvette.


























