Property from an Erudite Collector
Swiss
A gold, enamel and diamond-set keyless pendant watch in the form of a beetle, Circa 1900
Auction Closed
December 6, 09:17 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
· gilded movement, cylinder escapement, plain flat three-arm balance, unsigned
· white enamel dial, black Arabic numerals with red ‘12’, outer gilt-dot minute ring
· gold case in the form of a beetle, emerald-set eyes, hinged wings overlaid with translucent dark red flinqué enamel set with diamonds, the wings released via pusher to tail-end, the reverse naturalistically chased and engraved with the insect’s abdomen and legs
· gold and red guilloché enamel link chain
length 57mm
width 25mm
length including watch and chain 340mm
Pendants and brooches in the form of beetles were a popular style of novelty watch in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and were made by a variety of makers. The finest examples, such as the present watch, have highly decorated cases enhanced with enamels and precious stones, while the insect’s abdomen and legs are naturalistically chased and engraved to their underside. A pusher at the lower end of the insect releases the wings, which spring open with a satisfying action, splaying outwards to reveal a small white enamel dial. Similar examples made by Vacheron Constantin can be seen in archival images dating to 1910 that are illustrated in Lambelet, Carole & Coen, Lorette, The World of Vacheron Constantin, Lausanne: Editions Scriptar S.A., 1992, p. 326.