More important, these watches have obviously been cherished and treasured since their creation in the 1820s by numerous
owners who were delighted by the exquisiteness and beauty of the case and the skilled craftsmanship of its mechanism.
For almost 200 years, collectors have been mesmerized by the extraordinary pair of identical cases. Both cases were sculptured
to simulate the flower of the pomegranate with the petals emblazoned in rich translucent red enamel, covering a finely
engine-turned background of decorative motifs, evoking the veins of the flowers.
No cost was spared in creating the cases which are impressive in their dimensions of 66 mm and thickness of 22 mm, and
reputedly inlaid with nearly 1200 natural pearls of varying sizes. The beauty of the cases is matched by a mechanism of
such complexity which is rarely displayed by a quarter repeating watch, and is to the best of Christie’s knowledge, used
exclusively by Messers Piguet & Meylan.
A watch of similar magnificence with the same special repeating mechanism as the Pomegranate watches, also manufactured
for the Imperial Chinese Market was sold by Christie’s in Hong Kong in the Important Watches on 31st May, 2005 for HK$
3,032,000 (US$ 394,160).
PIGUET & MEYLAN
The pair of watches is stamped with the mark of PM, for Piguet & Meylan, the makers most associated with the very finest
of timepieces made for the Imperial Chinese Market.
Isaac-Daniel Piguet was born in 1755, in Le Chenit in the valley of Joux, Switzerland. At an early age he specialized
in the manufacturing of expensive and complicated pieces such as watches with carillons and en passant hour and quarter
striking clock watches. He finally settled in Geneva where in 1811 he formed a partnership with Philippe-Samuel Meylan.
Philippe-Samuel Meylan was born in 1772 in Switzerland, a member of a family of renowned watchmakers in Le Brassus.
He specialized in the production of very thin watches and became an eminent maker of watches with musical automaton.
Christie's presented these exquisite pocket watches and a dazzling array of contemporary watches at its upcoming 2008
Autumn Sale in Hong Kong. The Important Watch Sale was held December 3rd in Hong Kong.
For more information and to view the sale's e-catalog, click here: