Andersen

Svend Andersen was born in Denmark in 1942. With his diploma from the Danish Watchmaker School integrated in the Royal Technological Institute of Copenhagen, he went to Switzerland in 1963 in order to see how the world's best watches were made. He first worked at Gübelin Lucerne in the after-sales service and in 1965 he joined Gübelin Geneva. In 1969 he made, as a hobby, his first Bottle Clock which was displayed at the "Montres et Bijoux" Show. This unique performance had brought him the renowned "Watchmaker of the impossible" as it was mentioned in the international press. Indeed, nobody had ever realized such a clock. Patek Philippe got interested in ANDERSEN's creations and, in 1969, Svend ANDERSEN joined their ”Atelier des grandes complications”.

Svend ANDERSEN launched his own workshop in the late 70’s after having spent 9 years at Patek Philippe. He started his career as independent watchmaker by first manufacturing cases for Italian collectors. Satisfied with the high quality of the work, the watch collectors started to ask for their own bespoke timepieces (called “pièce unique”). Since then ANDERSEN Genève has been developing complicated watches like the annual calendar, perpetuel calendar, and jumping hour calendar.

The present lot, sold in November 1999 to Spain, belongs to a line of erotic wristwatches by Andersen known as the Eros collection model and contains an erotic automaton on the case back. Erotic automata watches dates back to the 18th century and has always been very collectible and sought after by watch connoisseurs . The back of the watch, however, is not “classical” anymore. Under a sapphire glass one discovers an automaton representing a libertine love scene, a real miniature polychrome painting, handmade, with a variety of fine details. At least 11 moving parts make the scene lively by the push of a button in the band at 8 o'clock. All figurines are in motion with different rhythms. Most importantly and most difficult to achieve in an erotical automaton: “they are moving smoothly and in harmony”.

The first Eros had the number 1 and until today less than 200 pieces have been manufactured, the present watch No. 70 has been retained in excellent overall condition and comes with the original presentation case.