97th Auction
2018/5/12
Lot 542
A collection of three pocket watches
J.J. Badolett & Cie., Genève / "Charmilles", Movement No. 139605, 49 mm, 81 g, circa 1894
A Geneva pocket watch
Case: brass, nickel-plated, glazed on both sides. Dial: enamel. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, "Charmilles Geneva, Patent No. 5056", monometallic screw balance.
Charmilles und Potter's Patent
Around 1886 the American watchmaker Albert H. Potter (1836-1908) in Geneva constructed a low priced but reliable and precise pocket watch he named "Charmilles". He described it as "the best watch you can buy for $ 4.00". The outstanding feature of the construction was the fact that the backplate and the case were cut in one piece.
This patent, with others pertaining to the Charmilles watch, was assigned to the New Haven Watch Company for a reputed fifty thousand dollars. The Charmilles watch was produced in a factory in Charmilles outside Geneva - hence the name of the watch - and was an attempt to create reliable timekeeping movements at low prices.
J.J. Badolett & Cie., Genève / "Charmilles", Movement No. 139605, 49 mm, 81 g, circa 1894
A Geneva pocket watch
Case: brass, nickel-plated, glazed on both sides. Dial: enamel. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, "Charmilles Geneva, Patent No. 5056", monometallic screw balance.
Charmilles und Potter's Patent
Around 1886 the American watchmaker Albert H. Potter (1836-1908) in Geneva constructed a low priced but reliable and precise pocket watch he named "Charmilles". He described it as "the best watch you can buy for $ 4.00". The outstanding feature of the construction was the fact that the backplate and the case were cut in one piece.
This patent, with others pertaining to the Charmilles watch, was assigned to the New Haven Watch Company for a reputed fifty thousand dollars. The Charmilles watch was produced in a factory in Charmilles outside Geneva - hence the name of the watch - and was an attempt to create reliable timekeeping movements at low prices.
estimated
1.700—2.500 €
Price realized
-