Important Watches: Part I
Important Watches: Part I
Piaget
Created by François-Paul Journe: Gouverneur Grande Sonnerie Pink gold minute-repeater wristwatch with visible hammer, power-reserve and day/night indication Circa 1997 | 伯爵 |「Gouverneur Grande Sonnerie」粉紅金三問腕錶備透視報時音錘、動力儲存及晝夜顯示，François-Paul Journe 製作，年份約1997
Auction Closed
May 10, 11:59 AM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 80,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Piaget
Created by François-Paul Journe:
Gouverneur Grande Sonnerie
Pink gold minute-repeating wristwatch with visible hammer, power-reserve and day/night indication
Circa 1997
伯爵
「Gouverneur Grande Sonnerie」粉紅金三問腕錶備透視報時音錘、動力儲存及晝夜顯示，François-Paul Journe 製作，年份約1997
Dial: black
Calibre: cal. 1996P manual winding, 33 jewels
Case: 18k pink gold, snap-on back
Case number: 645’952
Closure: 18k pink gold Piaget buckle
Dimensions: 37 mm
Signed: case, dial, movement and buckle
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
In 1997 Piaget produced an extremely limited number of wristwatches featuring a grande and a petite sonnerie striking thanks to the mastery of watchmaker François-Paul Journe. This was elegantly achieved through the creation of the ultra-thin 13 ligne calibre 1996P movement with a width of just 6.7 mm despite having more than 350 parts. The precision and beauty of the mechanism can be appreciated thanks to a sapphire crystal display back and the striking hammers are visible through the dial. To activate the different striking modes the watch has button pushers on the sides as well as indicators near the 10 position of the subsidiary seconds dial of the selected mode.
It is thought that only a handful of these watches were actually made despite the original plan of creating ten examples of the Gouverneur Grande Sonnerie model. The present lot is in remarkable condition and will provide further horological interest to any collection.