Atropos” Montandon

“Atropos” Montandon, Le Locle, No. 1852, circa 1880. Very fine 18K gold minute-repeating keyless pocket watch with two automaton Jacks, made for the Hispanic market. Four-body, hinged and sprung front cover finely chased and engraved with a scene of Atropos in a niche cuttingthe thread of life and within a foliate border, chased band, the back cover decorated en suite with the front, depict-ingthe fountain of youth within the niche. Hinged gold cuvette. Small, engine turned, silvered, blue enamelradial Roman numerals, gold star half-hour markers and gold dot minute markers, blue enamel center, subsidiaryseconds, frosted gilt mask, the dial flanked by two polychrome enamel bearded figures appearing to strike twobells during repeating, polychrome enamel foliage below. Gold "Louis" hands. Notes Montandon The Montandon firm, based in the Neuchâtel region, often produced watches for the Hispanic market, including South America. They made very high-quality watches, with excellent movements featuring many complications, and richly decorated, engraved cases. Atropos and the Fates In Greek mythology, Atropos was one of the three Moirae, the Fates. Atropos was the one who cut the thread of life. Known as the "inflexible" or "inevitable", she cut this thread with the "abhorred shears." She worked along with Clotho, who spun the thread, and Lachesis, who measured the length. They were the daughters of Zeus and Themis.