3,000 CHF
The Mystérieuse A. S. & F. (Armand Schwob & Frères, La Chaux-de-Fonds), Swiss, circa 1890. Rare and fine silver, keyless mystery watch. Three-body, "bassine et filets", polished, glazed on both faces. Eccentric glass with gilt Arabic numerals and outer black chapter minute ring with gilt Arabic numerals. Silver "spade" hands. Engine-turned dial plate. Gilt brass, crescent-shaped, 10 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring.Signed on the dial plate. Diam. 54 mm. Notes Built on the principle invented by Robert-Houdin for clocks, this watch appears to work without any mechanical movement. It is, in fact, driven by the crescent-shaped movement concealed above the dial on the border, the hands revolving along with the glass plate set beneath the dial.Patented by Armand Schwob & Frère à Paris on 24 January 1889, such watches were very popular towards the end of the 19th century.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-06-15
