52,900 CHF
Czapek & Cie à Genève, No. 3430, circa 1850. Very fine and interesting 18K gold, hunting-cased eight-day going demi-chronometer pocket watch with power reserve, day of the week, two-barrels, and tandem winding. Five-body, “bassine et filets”, engine-turned, reeded band, gold hinged cuvette. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at seven, power reserve at five with double-ended hand for 0-7 and Sun.-Sat., secured by two small screws. Blued steel “fleur de lys” hands. Notes Czapek & Cie. Frantisek Czapek was a Polish émigré who arrived in Switzerland in 1832 after the failed Polish insurrection against Russia. On May 1, 1839, Antoni Patek and Czapek founded the firm Patek et Czapek in Geneva. The partnership lasted six years, during which many exceptional watches were produced. Afterwards, Patek established Patek, Philippe Co. with a new partner, Adrien Philippe, and Czapek founded "Czapek et Cie", with Juliusz Gruzewski. The company did well. Gruzewski was a personal friend of Napoleon III, and Czapek quickly became watchmaker to the court of the Emperor. He had a factory in Geneva, a shop in Warsaw, and another in Paris.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-10-16
