109,250 HKD
Chronos Lemania (Alfred Lugrin), L’Orient de l’Orbe (Vallée de Joux), No. 13125, circa 1890. Fine and rare 18K gold keyless minute-repeating watch with animated Jacks. Six-body, “bassine et filets”, engine-turned covers, polished band, gold hinged cuvette. Small translucent blue enamel over engine-turning, radial gold paillon Roman numerals separated by gold paillon stars, outer gold paillon minute divisions, subsidiary seconds, flanked by Chronos and cherubs repeating hours, quarters, and minutes on bells, the whole on blued steel plate. Gold “Louis XV” hands. 44 mm (20’’’), frosted gilt, 22 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band.Diam. 55 mm. Notes Lemania, at present one of the most important movement producers in Switzerland, was established in 1884 by Alfred Lugrin. Very soon it became an important source of movement for many watch companies including Cartier, who used Lemania’s movements in most of their clocks. In 1888 Lugrin patented (English patent 661 of January 16, 1888) an interesting minute-repeating mechanism, which is implemented in this watch.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-06-06