97th Auction

2018/5/12

Lot 540

Ulysse Nardin Locle, Suisse, Movement No. 19812, Case No. 392944, 64 mm, 214 g, circa 1939
A deck chronometer with 40h power reserve indicator from the inventory of the Swedish Navy, formerly this chronometer received a Bulletin as Chronomètre de Poche from the Neuchâtel Observatory
Case: sterling silver, Swedish military engraving. Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, spring detent escapement with gold escape wheel, Guillaume gold screw compensation balance.
Norbert Eder writes in his book "Beobachtungsuhren" (Deck Watches): "This watch is without doubt a sound example of top quality Swiss watch- and chronometer making. Judging from the identical watch no. 21605 (see Eder, "Beobachtungsuhren" illustrations 32 a+b), no. 19812 should date from about 1917. That is, however, impossible because the silver case was produced after 1934. Presumably a number of movements were left over at the end of World War I, for which there was no demand; they were put in storage and fitted into cases just before World War II, when the watches were suddenly in great demand. We assume that the watch was finished around 1939, while the movement dates from 1917. According to the Ulysse Nardin records, only 187 examples of this movement type were ever produced."
Source: Norbert Eder, "Beobachtungsuhren", 1987, p. 101
According to research, that have been sent to us, the following emerges: The movement (plates and bridges only) was inventoried in July 1915.
The case, No. 392944, was delivered by Huguenin Frères on 29.12.1937 with 83 other cases of this type. This chronometer was delivered to Gustaf Wilhelm Linderoth, Stockholm on 01.08.1938.

Sold

estimated
3.2006.000 €
Price realized
5.100 €