Geneva, May 12, 2024
LONGINES, SWITZERLAND, CARILLON WESTMINSTER, MINUTE-REPEATING, POCKET WATCH, 18K YELLOW GOLD
A very fine and very rare, 18k gold, manual wind hunting-cased, keyless, minute-repeating pocket watch with carillon Westminster chime with four hammers on four gongs movement by Constant Piguet, Le Sentier, Swiss patent No. 11948.
Very good
Slightly scratched
Good
Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Very good
HANDS Original
Brand Longines, Switzerland
Model CARILLON WESTMINSTER
Year Circa 1910
Case No. 3628
Diameter 55 mm.
Caliber 20''', gilt brass, 32 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on four gongs with four hammers activated by a slide on the band.
Signature Dial, case and movement
Accessories fitted box
Carillon minute repeating watches are very rare; only a few are known with Westminster chimes. On March 20, 1896, Constant Piguet patented this system of minute-repeat with carillon, under the No. 11948. The makers that specialized in this type of watch were Constant Piguet, Eduard JeanRichard, and Victorin Piguet. The known tunes played by four hammer carillons are: Westminster chimes, the Swiss National anthem, and God Save the King. Similar watches were sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, October 19, 2002, lot 8; Hong Kong, July 10, 2005, lot 83; Geneva, May 14, 2006, lot 783 and October 15, 2006, lot 404. Longines Longines was founded in 1832 by Ernest Francillon at Saint-Imier, Switzerland. The Longines name was once displayed above the analog clocks topping many scoreboards in stadiums and baseball parks in America, such as the clock at Yankee Stadium before its remodeling in the early 1970's, and the one at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh in later years. Longines is also famous for its 'Aviators' watches. It is said that Albert Einstein used a Longines pocket watch, and the companys watches have been worn by many celebrities, including Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Billy Zane and Harry Connick Jr. The company's motto is "Elegance is an attitude".
