101st Auction
2019/11/16
Lot 348
Nicole Nielsen & Co., 14 Soho Square, London, Movement No. 10681, Case No. 10681, 38 mm, 68 g, circa 1890
A small decorative minute repeating hunting case pocket watch
Case: 18k gold, monogrammed, case maker's punch mark "EN" (Emil Nielsen partner in Nicole, Nielsen & Co.), pendant chased "JC". Dial: enamel. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, gold screw compensation balance.
An exquisite small pocket watch with allover elaborate ornamentation, which is – like the watch itself – in excellent, immaculate condition. The square pattern on the back is particularly attractive.
The Nicole Nielsen & Co. had a reputation for the fine quality of their watches; they were one of the main suppliers for Chas. Frodsham.
Nicole Nielsen started out as a manufacturer of chronographs but extended their product range to include pocket chronometers, carrousel watches and tourbillons for well-known brands in London. The Swiss parent company Nicole & Capt was founded in Geneva in 1837; Adolphe Nicole and his partner Henry Capt opened their first branch in 1840 in London. Jules Capt joined the company as a partner in 1843 after Henry Capt had died; one year later Adolphe Nicole received his first patent. He was issued two more patents, in 1862 (for a chronograph movement) and 1870 (for a resilient lever).
Shortly after Jules Capt’s death in 1876 Sophus Emil Nielsen, son-in-law and employee of Nicole, became a partner and applied for a patent (for an up and down mechanism). In 1888 Sophus Emil Nielsen sold the company to Mr. North and held the position of managerial director together with Harrison Mill Frodsham.
Whereas Nicole Nielsen & Co. probably had many of their special parts made in Switzerland, the majority of parts was produced on the premises at Soho Square.
In 1898 31 year old Robert Benson North became director of the company; Sophus Emil Nielsen died in 1899. In 1904 the production range was extended to include tachometers for cars and a new factory for this line was built in Watford in the north west of London. In 1917 the company name changed from "Nicole Nielsen & Co. Ltd." to "North & Sons Ltd., 14 Soho Square". After the First World War the company suffered heavy sales losses; Robert Benson North died in 1929 and in 1932 the company entered into liquidation - truly a sad ending for a staff of 350 in Watford and for the employees at headquarters at Soho Square.
A small decorative minute repeating hunting case pocket watch
Case: 18k gold, monogrammed, case maker's punch mark "EN" (Emil Nielsen partner in Nicole, Nielsen & Co.), pendant chased "JC". Dial: enamel. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, gold screw compensation balance.
An exquisite small pocket watch with allover elaborate ornamentation, which is – like the watch itself – in excellent, immaculate condition. The square pattern on the back is particularly attractive.
The Nicole Nielsen & Co. had a reputation for the fine quality of their watches; they were one of the main suppliers for Chas. Frodsham.
Nicole Nielsen started out as a manufacturer of chronographs but extended their product range to include pocket chronometers, carrousel watches and tourbillons for well-known brands in London. The Swiss parent company Nicole & Capt was founded in Geneva in 1837; Adolphe Nicole and his partner Henry Capt opened their first branch in 1840 in London. Jules Capt joined the company as a partner in 1843 after Henry Capt had died; one year later Adolphe Nicole received his first patent. He was issued two more patents, in 1862 (for a chronograph movement) and 1870 (for a resilient lever).
Shortly after Jules Capt’s death in 1876 Sophus Emil Nielsen, son-in-law and employee of Nicole, became a partner and applied for a patent (for an up and down mechanism). In 1888 Sophus Emil Nielsen sold the company to Mr. North and held the position of managerial director together with Harrison Mill Frodsham.
Whereas Nicole Nielsen & Co. probably had many of their special parts made in Switzerland, the majority of parts was produced on the premises at Soho Square.
In 1898 31 year old Robert Benson North became director of the company; Sophus Emil Nielsen died in 1899. In 1904 the production range was extended to include tachometers for cars and a new factory for this line was built in Watford in the north west of London. In 1917 the company name changed from "Nicole Nielsen & Co. Ltd." to "North & Sons Ltd., 14 Soho Square". After the First World War the company suffered heavy sales losses; Robert Benson North died in 1929 and in 1932 the company entered into liquidation - truly a sad ending for a staff of 350 in Watford and for the employees at headquarters at Soho Square.
Sold
estimated
3.800—6.000 €
Price realized
5.200 €