8,855 CHF
Bahne Bonniksen, made for S. Smith & Son, 9 Strand, London, No. 192-251, hallmarked 1910.Very fine silver and gold, keyless watch with Bonniksen patented Karrusel regulator and Guillaume balance. Four-body, "bassine et filets", polished, gold hinge, silver hinged cuvette. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "spade" hands. Notes English watches with Guillaume balances are very rare. Dent and Frodsham used few, starting in 1916, Northern Goldsmiths' Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne made few in 1918, Dreyfuss Moise of London two in 1929. Smith and Stauffer Co. seems to be the two English companies that had most faith in the Guillaume balance. The watch comes from a small series which Smith destined for the Key Observatory trials. His No. 191-222 won 3rd place in 1898, his No. 192-256 won 11th place in 1915. Smith's No. 192-233, anidentical watch to this one, classified as a deck watch, took part in the 1918 trial. To find one of these on the open market is very rare.For comments on Karrusel see note to lot 426.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-04-12
