Skip to Content

Uhrenfabrik Union. A fine and rare 18K gold hunter case minute repeating keyless lever watch
- SIGNED UHRENFABRIK UNION, GLASHÜTTE IN SACHSEN, NO. 54615, CIRCA 1900

Contemporary, modern and old century works of art at auction for buyers and collectors at Christie’s auction house

View, register and bid for sales

Uhrenfabrik Union. A fine and rare 18K gold hunter case minute repeating keyless lever watch
SIGNED UHRENFABRIK UNION, GLASHÜTTE IN SACHSEN, NO. 54615, CIRCA 1900
Price Realized
(Set Currency)
  • CHF20,400
  • ($17,056)
  • Price includes buyer's premium
Estimate
    CHF16,000 - CHF24,000
  • ($13,377 - $20,065)

Sale Information

Sale 1336
Important Pocketwatches and Wristwatches
15 May 2006
Geneva - Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues




Lot Description

Uhrenfabrik Union. A fine and rare 18K gold hunter case minute repeating keyless lever watch
Signed Uhrenfabrik Union, Glashütte in Sachsen, No. 54615, circa 1900
With three quarter plate gilt-finished jewelled lever movement, screwed gold chatons, blued screws, bimetallic compensation balance with gold poising screws, gold lever and escape wheel, finely engraved balance cock, swan neck regulator with diamond endstone, minute repeating on two polished steel hammers onto a gong, missing glazed dust cover, gold cuvette, the white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals, gold Louis XV hands, sunk centre and subsidiary seconds, in large plain Lucia case, repeating slide in the band, case and cuvette signed and numbered and stamped with the "portal" hallmark, dial signed, movement signed and numbered
59 mm. diam.

Pre-Lot Text

THE PROPERTY OF A DESCENDANT OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER

Lot Notes

Uhrenfabrik Union was founded on 1 January 1893 by the Dresden wholesaler Johannes Dürrstein (1845-1901). Born in Frankfurt/Main, Johannes Dürrstein started his career with the wholesaler Ludwig & Fries. In 1874 he and his brother Friedrich set up their own business Dürrstein & Co. in Dresden

Uhrenfabrik Union, trademark "Union", quickly became one of Germany's leading manufacturers of high quality watches, including small series of complicated timepieces such as pocket chronometers, tourbillons, perpetual calendar, repeating and striking watches. Union watches fitted with a Swiss ébauche were hallmarked with a bell surrounded by stars. Those entirely made in Germany, such as the present watch, featured the "portal" mark.

In 1901, Union presented the most complicated watch ever made in Glashütte, the "Universal Watch".

Department Information