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Auction 105
Lot 281

105th Auction

2021/11/13

Lot 281

Invicta
Tourbillon

A historically interesting pocket watch with one-minute tourbillon, studded with diamonds. This is probably a custom-made piece for Ahmed II. Pasha Bey of Tunis and ruler of Tunisia

estimated
10.000—20.000 €
Price realized
-
specific features
Case
18 K gold, applied diamond borders and crescents with Arabic inscription, glazed aperture for visible balance.
Dial
Enamel, eccentric hour indicator with Roman numerals, centre seconds.
Movement
Brass, gilt, patent signature "Fureur No. 34394", lever escapement, screw compensation balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.
Case no.113988
Diam.52 mm
Circa1930
Ctry.Switzerland
Wt.90 g


The patent for this type of watch was submitted by Louis and Edouard Fallet Fils of St. Imier in 1905 and was issued the number 34394. By placing the tourbillon on a central arbor, Edouard Fallet avoided infringing the Swiss patent no. 30754 the French maker Paul Loichot of Charquemont (Doubs) had received on June 6, 1904; the fact that the cage was visible on the dial side was part of Loichot’s claim element. Two other watches of this type are illustrated in Reinhard Meis' "Das Tourbillon" on page 313.
The back side of this magnificent pocket watch decorated with two applied crescents filled with Arabic inscriptions. The upper inscription shows the Islamic year 1351, which corresponds to 1932 according to the Christian calendar. The inscription below refers to Ahmed II ibn Ali Pasha Bey (1862-1942) of the Husaynid dynasty, Bey of Tunis and ruler of Tunisia from 1929 until his death in 1942.