A10538

Gold and Enamel Beetle Form Watch

£14,000.00

Anonymous    Swiss
Circa   1880
Dimensions   28 x 51 x 17 mm         

1 in stock

Description

A fine late 19th Century Swiss gold and enamel brooch watch in the form of a beetle. Heart shaped keywind gilt bar movement with suspended going barrel. Plain cock with polished steel regulator. Plain three arm gilt balance with blue steel spiral hairspring. Polished steel cylinder, steel escape wheel. Small white enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, blue steel hands.  Fine gold and enamel case in the form of a beetle, the diamond and pearl set translucent red enamel wings opened by depressing a button in the tail to reveal the dial. The head chased and engraved with champleve black enamel, the eyes represented by green stones.  The underside of the beetle realistically portrayed with finely chased and engraved legs applied to the hinged cover.  Wound and set through the gold oval cuvette.  Oval gold loop for a chain.

A high quality attractive piece in excellent overall condition.  See The Technique and History of the Swiss Watch colour plate 30 for a similar watch.