97th Auction

2018/5/12

Lot 509

Ulysse Nardin Locle Suisse "Chronomètre", Movement No. 127307, Case No. 666012, 64 mm, 247 g, circa 1954
A large deck chronometer with split seconds chronograph and 30 min. counter with original box, original Bulletin de Marche Observatory Neuchatel, May 12, 1954, invoice of August 18, 1954 for the sum of 1035 SFr., correspondence and booklets
Case: steel. Dial: enamel. Movm.: 2/3 plate movement, Guillaume gold screw compensation balance.
This chronometer comes with extensive correspondence in French between the buyer of the watch, Monsieur le Dr. Bunello Negri in San Remo and the company Ulysse Nardin - the correspondence begins with a letter by Ulysse Nardin dated June 3, 1954, confirming the sale of the chronometer for a sum of 1.035 CHF less a discount of 20 %. The discount was probably granted because Brunello Negri knew Gaston Nardin personally: On a handwritten note dating from August 1954, Nardin expresses his regrets over the fact that the physician is not able to come to Locle in person as planned; he also refers to an earlier "serious" occasion, when Negri most likely treated him.
After delivery and the bill dating from August 18, 1954, there is another bill for a revision - again with a discount granted - dating from April 1956, which confirms the shipment of the watch to Somazzi Frères in Lugano; enclosed is the Bulletin de Marche issued by the observatory in Neuchâtel. Somazzi Frères are still active today and have been based in Lugano’s wealthy Via Nassa since 1860.
In addition to the correspondence there are also a period brochure of the company Ulysse Nardin presenting the marine chronometers and deck watches including the example we have here, and a list of governments and institutions Ulysse Nardin supplied with their fine timepieces.

estimated
8.50012.000 €
Price realized
-