Ld Bordier Enamelled Gold Quarter Repeating Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1800
This quarter-repeating pocket watch, attributed to Ld Bordier of Geneva (circa 1800), is housed in a gold case featuring a champlevé enamel scene of mythological figures.
The case is decorated with a border of 53 half-pearls, while the bezel contains 60 half-pearls and is engraved with geometric champlevé enamel motifs. The watch features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals and is signed "Ld Bordier" above the six o'clock position. The hands are crafted from pierced and engraved brass in the Louis XV style. Internally, the watch utilizes a pillar movement with a verge escapement, chain and fusee, and a large, pierced, and engraved brass balance cock.
The quarter-repeating mechanism is activated by pressing the bow. The watch measures 52 mm in diameter and 19 mm in height, with a total weight of 97 grams. It is accompanied by a winding key.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1800
- Type
- Quarter repeating pocket watch
- Maker
- Ld Bordier
- Diameter
- 52 mm
- Signature
- Ld Bordier
- Serial Number
- 5107
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Ld Bordier
Design
- Visible features
- • Case back features a polychrome mythological scene in enamel • Bezel and back border are densely set with half-pearls • Dial features a sub-second winding hole at the two o'clock position • Movement contains a small silver regulating dial
- Case and Dial Design
- The exterior of the watch presents a high degree of ornamentation through the use of polychrome enamel and half-pearls. The reverse of the case displays a scene populated by three figures, bordered by a set of 53 half-pearls. The bezel is similarly adorned with 60 half-pearls and incorporates geometric champlevé enamel work. The dial is white enamel, featuring black Roman numerals. The hour and minute hands are pierced and engraved brass, described as Louis XV in style. The signature "Ld Bordier" is present on the dial.
- Movement and Mechanism
- The watch functions as a quarter-repeater, triggered by the action of pressing the bow. Power is delivered via a chain and fusee system. The movement itself is of the pillar type, containing a verge escapement and a large, pierced, and engraved balance cock. Regulation of the timepiece is managed via a small silver regulating dial located within the movement. The movement carries the signature "Ld Bordier" and is marked with the number 5107 alongside the location "Genève".
- Provenance and Condition
- The watch has been recorded in an expertise report authored in 2003 by Prof. Curtit, which declared the instrument to be in a state of perfect preservation and function. Following the date of that report, the object has been held in a display case. The auction description reports that the lot is being offered as a specific item from a collection, though it does not provide earlier history beyond the 2003 assessment.
Identification
- Serial number
- 5107
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source provides a 2003 expertise statement regarding the watch's function that is not verified by current inspection.
- Research required: The attribution of the watch to the city of Geneva rests on the movement engraving, which may or may not correlate to the primary place of manufacture.