31,050 CHF
Charles Oudin, Palais Royal, Paris, Horloger de la Marine, No. 18605, circa 1860.Very fine and extremely rare 18K gold key-wound miniature watch. White enamel, radial Roman chapters, outer minute divisions. Blued steel Breguet hands. 11 mmo, weight 1,2 grams (including dial and hands), gilt brass bar calibre, 12 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gilt balance with blued steel flat spring.Signed on the cuvette.Diam. 14 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 188-189. 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 one other, 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 dialremain today.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-03-31
