On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT wil… Read more

Moser. A fine and rare 18K pink gold minute repeating converted wristwatch, made for the Russian market

Signed T. Moser, movement no. 14229, circa 1900, converted circa 1920

Details

Moser. A fine and rare 18K pink gold minute repeating converted wristwatch, made for the Russian market
Signed T. Moser, movement no. 14229, circa 1900, converted circa 1920
Movement: manual, matte gilt, repeating with two hammers on two gongs
Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds
Case: snap on back, three-body, polished, curved lugs, slide on the band to activate the repeating
Signed: dial signed, movement numbered on the dial plate, case with post-revolution Russian hallmarks
Dimensions: 34 mm. diam.
With: 18K gold buckle

Special notice

On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price. Many of the watches offered for sale in this catalogue are pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the sale. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

Lot Essay

Minute repeating watches of this small size and quality are very rare. The first decades of the 20th century was a period when the wristwatch was starting to gain popularity and as such, movements of this size and particularly this complexity, although originally destined for pocket watches, lent themselves perfectly to the new wristwatch format. The present watch was made by the firm of T. Moser of Bienne (1920-1926), part of the Moser watchmaking dynasty especially for the Russian market. In fact many movements only were sent from Switzerland to Russia to be cased there and thus the case of this watch is punched with post-revolution Soviet hallmarks. The Moser factory placed its products in the whole of European Russia and Asiatic Russia where fine repeaters such as the present watch were in high demand. The repeating of the present watch has a clear audible tone complementing the charming overall style of this truly vintage wristwatch.

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