$17,250
Albert H. Potter & Co., Geneva, No. 486, circa 1880.Very rare, fine and most interesting, 18K gold, moon phase astronomical watch with unusual perpetual calendar. , gold, glazed, detachable cuvette. D. white enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, moon phase aperture and sunk subsidiar white enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, moon phase aperture and sunk subsidiary seconds with inner perpetual calendar showing only the date, with the small hand automatically jumping from the last day of the month to the first of the next, whether it is a month of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days. Blued steel "Spade" hands. Notes This watch incorporates an ingenious perpetual calendar mechanism which displays the date only. The mechanism "knows" but does not display, the months as well as the leap year.. Such a display is an extremely rare feature.Albert H. Potter (1836-1908)Albert H. Potter, a pioneer of precision watchmaking in the U.S. and Switzerland, was born in Mechanicville, New York. He was christened Arnold, but later changed his name to Albert Henry. At 16 he was apprenticed to the watchmaking firm Wood and Foley in Albany. After three years he moved to New York City, where he opened a repair shop at 19 John Street and subsequently moved to 84 Nassau Street. There he began to design and manufacture watches. Although production was limited to 30 watches, alwere of a very high quality and highly priced for the period, costing $200 to over $300, while mos Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-11-28
