Auction - More pocket watches coming up at Christie's HK Spring sale

Tchetounoff Freres pocket watch

Details are starting to filter out about the upcoming Christie's Spring sale. Watch enthusiasts can look forward to a wide array of timepieces at Christie’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale on May 30. With 540 lots on offer and a total estimate exceeding $10 million, the Spring Sale will offer rare enamel and pocket watches, opulent ladies’ jewellery watches, vintage wristwatches and modern complication wristwatches. As previously mentioned, pocket watches have been in demand by Chinese collectors. Along with a magnificent pair of matching gold and enamel Singing Bird Pistols (see previous post), there will be a noteworthy selection of over 150 lots of enamel and pocket watches, many of which were manufactured for the Chinese market dating back to almost two centuries. Since their first appearance, these extremely attractive watches have retained their appeal and are still today highly appreciated by collectors for their exquisite enamelled, gem-set cases as well as for their innovative mechanisms.

Ilbery pocket watch

Of particular importance is a very rare gold and enamel openface duplex pocket watch, circa 1815 by renowned London watchmaker William Ilbery, who was famous as the creator of Chinese market watches. Ilbery was a great artist and technician and his watches often combined exquisite enamel paintings by Swiss artists, with highly accurate and innovative movements. The enamel painting on the case is beautifully executed in the manner of Jean-Louis Richard and illustrates the English
watchmaker’s talent of combining high technology with the decorative arts.

Bovet pocket watch

Another emblematic example of a timepiece made for the Chinese market of the period is a very fine, rare and large, gilt open face duplex pocket watch with mother of pearl and painted enamel, by Swiss watchmaker Bovet, circa 1860. ‘Bo Wei’ or ‘Bo-vay’ in Chinese, Bovet’s pocket watches was a resounding success in China and the name soon became synonymous for the highest quality pocket watches, coveted by members of the ruling class in China. Gold cases with enamel miniatures painted by the most celebrated artists of the time, or cloisonné and champlevé decorations and pearl-set borders are unmistakable signatures of Bovet’s creations. Many examples of such Bovet pocket watches with beautiful enamel paintings of vividly coloured bouquets on the cases are displayed in the Beijing Palace Museum collection.