62,100 CHF
“Mille Fleurs” Bovet, Fleurier, No. 2406, circa 1840, made for the Chinese market. Very fine and unusual 18K gold and enamel pearl-set dead center-seconds watch with special movement and Chinese duplex escapement. Three-body, “Empire”, spring-loaded back cover superbly decorated with polychrome champlevé enamel floral and foliate patterns, pearl-set bezels, reeded band, glazed cuvette hinged to the movement adapter ring, pearl-set pendant and bow. White enamel, fine elongated radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel “spoon” hands. 48 mm, frosted and gilt fully engraved “Chinese” caliber, additionally decorated in an unusual manner by application of multicolored gold flowers on the plate, bridges, and standing barrel, 12 jewels, Chinese ruby duplex escapement, plain three-arm steel balance with blued steel wedged weights, flat balance spring. Signed in Chinese characters inside back cover which is also punched with Geneva’s mark and casemaker’s mark “CB”. Diam. 57 mm. Notes Superbly decorated movements such as this one are hard to find, even among watches destined for the Chinese market. For a history of the Bovet firm, see lot 56.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2002-04-13