76,700 CHF
“Four Independent Time Zones- for the North African Islamic Market” Chantelot a Marseille, No. 19415, 19416 & 19417. Made for the Islamic market, circa 1800. Fine, very rare and unusual, large, 18K gold pocket watch with four independent dials for different time zones. Four-body, “Empire”, polished bezels, reeded band, the back cover engine-turned with a “sunray” pattern and central vacant cartouche. Gilt metal cuvette. Four, small, white enamel with Islamic numerals, outer minute track and Islamic five-minute numerals, matte gilt dial plate finely engraved with foliage and central signature. Blued steel “Breguet” hands. Four, 24 mm., frosted gilt, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement with micrometric potence adjustment, brass balance, flat balance spring, continental balance cock, silver regulation dial. Dial, cuvette and three of the movements signed. Diam. 72 mm. Property of a European Gentleman Notes Watches with provision for showing time in more than one place are very rare before the late 19th century when true “world time” watches were first made. Before this, watches such as the present piece are very occasionally found with multiple movements and dials for keeping the time in different places. Before the advent of mass travel, there was little need for people to know the time in other places and the only people who would be interested in this were sailors and frequent voyagers. The present watch being of such high grade and therefore cost, i
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2007-05-13
