97th Auction

2018/5/12

Lot 205

West End Watch Co., Swiss Made Extra, Movement No. 153084, Case No. 4128 50, 54 mm, 122 g, circa 1900
An ornamental half-hunter watch with minute repeater and two Jacquemarts "à trois couleurs", in an intricately engraved gold case that is lavishly decorated with summer flowers for the Indian market
Case: 18k gold. Dial: translucent white and dark-green enamel, screwed on three-colour gold figures. Movm.: bridge movement, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, screw compensation balance.
When the repeater is activated, a putto rising from a cornucopia on the right strikes the hours on a bell which another putto holds out to him. On the left, Chronos strikes the minutes on a bell - both together strike the quarter hours. In the centre of the dial sits a translucent ivory-coloured hour dial with a small second dial below it.
The foundation of West End Watch Co. was in 1886. The first West End Watches are produced by Alcide Droz & Sons and distributed on the Indian market.
During the 1st World War West End Watch Co. produces its first wristwatches for the soldiers of the British Army. The brand becomes legendary in the Middle-East. In 1917 Société des Montres West End SA (the Ltd. company) is registered in Geneva. West End Watch Co. is the first brand to introduce in series the revolutionary Incabloc anti-shock system invented by Mr Braunschweig in 1934.
Source: www.westendwatchco.ch

Sold

estimated
7.50012.000 €
Price realized
9.300 €