Swiss gold and enamel quarter repeating grande and petite sonnerie clock watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1890
This Swiss 18k gold hunting case clock watch, dated by the auction house to circa 1890, measures 56 mm in diameter. The polished front lid features an enameled crown above a royal blue calligraphic Arabic monogram, which the source notes was possibly produced to commemorate the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in Egypt.
According to the catalogue, the watch is powered by a damascened nickel tandem-wind two-train movement equipped with a lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance, and glazed cuvette. It features quarter repeating along with grande and petite sonnerie striking functions, while the concealed dial is described as silvered with vari-color gold foliage, black Roman numerals, and subsidiary seconds.
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
- Type
- Repeating watch
- Diameter
- 56 mm
- Movement
- Tandem wind two-train, lever escapement
- Case material
- 18k gold and enamel
- Complications
- Quarter repeating grande and petite sonnerie
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Dial description
- Silvered with vari-color gold scrolling foliage
- Maker / attribution
- Swiss
Design
- Visible features
- • Polished yellow gold hunting case front lid with an enameled royal crown set with crescent-and-star motifs. • Central royal blue calligraphic Arabic monogram flanked by small reddish-brown script marks. • Fluted winding crown with an oval bow at twelve o'clock and visible case slide/lip elements on the side and bottom.
- Dial and Movement Details
- The dial is described as silvered, featuring vari-color gold scrolling foliage, black radial Roman numerals, and a subsidiary seconds register. The movement is described as a damascened nickel, highly jeweled tandem-wind two-train mechanism with a lever escapement and bi-metallic compensation balance. It includes a glazed cuvette.
- Case Construction and Aesthetics
- The timepiece is housed in an 18k gold hunting case measuring 56 mm in diameter. The exterior of the front lid is polished and features an enameled royal crown motif, centering on an Arabic monogram. The case design incorporates a fluted winding crown situated at the twelve o'clock position, accompanied by an oval bow. Mechanical access points are noted on the side and bottom of the case.
- Provenance and Functional Classification
- The auction source notes the decorative Arabic enamel monogram may have been produced in commemoration of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in Egypt. This is presented by the source as a possibility. Functionally, the watch is a quarter repeater with grande and petite sonnerie striking. A saleroom notice clarifies it is a quarter repeater rather than a minute repeater.
Identification
- 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 internal movement, glazed cuvette, and silvered dial are described in the catalogue but not visible in the provided image.
- Research required: The connection to the Muhammad Ali Dynasty is noted by the auction house as possible rather than definitive.