30,000 CHF
J(aques) Sermand, (Geneva). Made circa 1640. Very fine and rare, pre-balance spring, single-handed, gilt brass, dodecahedral faceted rock crystal and silver pendant watch of lobed form. Two-body, gilt brass frame and bezel with feather engraving, turned lower finial and loose ring pendant, twelvelobed rock crystal cover over the dial, silver twelve-lobed back made to replace the original rock crystal back. Silver, radial Roman hour numerals with inner dots, lozenge half-hour divisions, the center engraved with a riverside townscape with figures, gilt brass dial plate engraved with flowers and foliage, four locating pins with corresponding slots in the case band. Fine steel tulip hand. 28 mm., gilt brass full plate, turned vase-shaped pillars, fusee and gut-line, short four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, verge escapement, steel two-arm circular foliot, elongated cock pierced and engraved with flowers secured by a pin, ratchet wheel and click mainspring set-up. Movement signed. Diam. 33 mm. Notes is interesting that the back of the case has been remade in silver in an exact replica of the shape of the lost crystal original. This replacement would appear to be of considerable age, quite possibly 18th century, and illustrates how valued these watches were by their owners. Provenance : Christie’s Geneva, November 18, 1992, lot 157. Jaques Sermand (1595-1651) A master watchmaker, the son of Henry. Made agate and rock crystal form watches designed as a cross, a star, a
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2009-03-29
