7,475 CHF
“Les Petites Fleurs” Auguste Courvoisier & Cie, Chaux de Fonds, No. 46172. Made for the Islamic market, circa 1850. Very fine and extremely rare, 18K gold and painted on enamel key-wound miniature watch with a gold-cased key Matte gold with radial Islamic numerals, the center with painted on enamel flowers outer dot minute divisions. Hands missing. 11.5 mm, 5‘’’, gilt brass bar calibre, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gilt balance with blued steel flat spring, index regulator (hour and intermediate wheels missing). Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 14 mm. Notes This watch approaches the outer limits of miniaturization, and can be considered one of the smallest in the entire world. We know of only two others, one of which was made by Patek Philippe in 1850 (No. 3503). It measured 9,02 mm, and was shown at the London Universal Exhibition of 1851, figuring in the Official Catalogue of the Exhibition. Long considered the smallest watch in the world, its movement has unfortunately been lost; only the case and dial remain today. The other, by Charles Oudin and measuring the same as this watch at 14 mm, was sold by Antiquorum Geneva, The Sandberg Watch Collection, March 31, 2001, Lot 338. Philippe Auguste Courvoisier (1803-1873). Was at times associated with Courvoisier & Co. and also with Courvoisier Frères, but he also signed clocks and watches in his own name. He was no longer associated with those companies after 1852. The making of miniature watches has always been a chal
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-10-16
