587,190 HKD
C. Racine, Le Locle, Swiss, made for the Indian market, circa 1900. Exceptional 18 ct. gold, ruby and diamond set half hunting-cased, minute-repeating, grande sonnerie, moon-phase astronomical keyless clockwatch with perpetual calendar and chronograph. Four body massive, "bassine et filets", matted satin finished, the cover with Arabic numerals on the edge of the dial aperture, borded by a raised ring of 32 rubies and 8 diamonds. The back with an armorial chased in high relief with diamond set flags above ruby and diamond elephants supporting a crown with initiais "V. R." and motto: "Ever loyal". Gold cuvette engraved with specifications. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute and chronograph ring, sunk subsidiary dials for week days, months with leap-year cycle, date and seconds with inner moon-phase aperture and calendar. Gold "spade" hands. Notes The combination of flags bearing different heraldic emblems and surrounding the initiais "V. R." with motto: "Ever Loyal" would strongly point to this watch being intended as a presentation or celebration of Queen Victoria's (Victoria Regina) reign as Empress of India.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1994-06-17
