Bonhams 1793 : Blancpain, Horologers a Villeret. A rare 18ct gold automatic wristwatch together with original box Circa 1965

Circa 1965
17-jewel Cal.1361N automatic movement stamped '50 fathoms'on the steel rotor, brass plated 'faraday cage', with Glucydor balance, silvered dial with painted gilt tear drop shaped markers and outer printed five minute markers, luminous filled gilt lance hands and sweep centre seconds, brushed and polished round gold case with snap on back and fluted fixed bezel, fitted leather strap, together with fitted Blancpain box, dial and movement signed Blancpain, case signed Rayvilles SA
35mm.

Sold for £3,125 inc. premium

Footnotes

This particular watch featured in the August 1990 edition of 'Orologi' on PP.79-81 and this magazine is included with the lot.

In 1932 the Blancpain family's management of the firm, which had lasted for over two centuries came to an end. On the death of Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, his only daughter, Berthe-Nellie, did not wish to go into watchmaking. The following year, the two members of the staff who had been closest to Frédéric-Emile, Betty Fiechter and André Léal, bought the business. As there was no longer any member of the Blancpain family in control of the firm, the two associates were obliged by law as it stood at the time to change the company name. Henceforth, the firm would be called "Rayville S.A., succ. de Blancpain", "Rayville" being a phonetic anagram of Villeret.

Category: Clocks and Watches / Watches

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