Live Auction 1391Important Watches, including A Gentleman's Pursuit for Excellence, Part I
Montandon. A fine and heavy 18K gold and enamel hunter case minute repeating keyless lever jaquemarts watch, made for the Spanish market
Lot 285

Montandon. A fine and heavy 18K gold and enamel hunter case minute repeating keyless lever jaquemarts watch, made for the Spanish market

SIGNED MONTANDON, LOCLE, RÉPÉTITION AUTOMATES, NO. 1852, CIRCA 1880

Closed12 November 2012

Price Realised

CHF 22,500

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

Montandon. A fine and heavy 18K gold and enamel hunter case minute repeating keyless lever jaquemarts watch, made for the Spanish market
Signed Montandon, Locle, Répétition Automates, No. 1852, circa 1880
Cal. 20" mechanical lever movement, 35 jewels, minute repeating on two hammers, glazed dust cover, gold cuvette with engine-turned border, translucent silvered enamel dial on engine-turned background, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, copper-coloured back plate, all surmounted by a polychrome enamel automaton scene depicting two bearded gentlemen striking the bells in unison with the repeating, a polychrome enamel floral decoration to the bottom, circular finely chased and engraved floral and scroll decorated case, front covered centred by a scene depicting Atropos cutting the thread of life, repeating slide in the band, case numbered, cuvette signed and numbered
56 mm. diam.

Specialist note

Montandon in Le Locle were specialized in the manufacture of watches often destined for the export to the Spanish and South American markets. Their products were distinguished by the high quality of their movements, often featuring complications, and the lavishly decorated cases.

The engraved scene on the present watch depicts Atropos, one of the three Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny in Greek mythology. Atropos or Aisa was the oldest of the Three Fates, and was known as the "inflexible" or "inevitable." It was Atropos who chose the mechanism of death and ended the life of each mortal by cutting their thread with her "abhorred shears." She worked along with her two sisters, Clotho, who spun the thread, and Lachesis, who measured the length.