104th Auction
2021/5/22
Lot 309
Anonymous
A fine presentation hunting case pocket watch in a rare niello silver case with Imperial Austrian coat of arms on both lids
Sold
estimated
700—1.500 €
Price realized
1.700 €
specific features
Case
Niello silver, gold inlay, case maker's punch mark Huguenin Frères / Fabrique Niel.
Dial
Enamel.
Movement
Bridge movement, lever escapement, screw compensation balance.
Case no.700059
Diam.51 mm
Circa1900
Ctry.Swiss
Wt.95 g
The case was made by Swiss case maker Huguenin Frères, a company that dates back to 1868.
By the end of the 19th century, they were specialising in the niello method, which gives silver watches an elegant black finish. This method gained the company worldwide fame and as a result of their new-found success, they switched from manual production to industrial production in 1899 by building the factory in Le Locle, which is still in use today.
Source: www.watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Huguenin_Fr%C3%A8res_(2), as of 04/09/2021.