Lot 268

Ebel

Lucréce – Die Goldene Rose von Baden-Baden

A magnificent one-of-a-kind top class vintage bejewelled white gold dress watch with diamonds – a truly unique piece. The watch was awarded the "Golden Rose of Baden-Baden" in 1972 and purchased late in 1972 by Alfred Herrhausen (1930-1989) for 27,000 German mark. Alfred Herrhausen was a German manager and the spokesman of the board of the Deutsche Bank. He was murdered by the German terrorist group RAF on November 30, 1989

The black onyx dial is framed by a pavé of 4.30 ct of brilliants which emphasizes the bold design.
The design prize "Goldene Rose von Baden-Baden" (Golden Rose of Baden-Baden) for the most beautiful bejewelled dress watch was awarded once a year from 1969 to 1979 by the Gesellschaft der Edelsteinfreunde e.V. Hamburg (seit 1971 Gesellschaft Deutscher Edelsteintag (GDE) - Juweleninstitut e.V. Hamburg) (society of gemstone friends registered society – since 1971 society German gemstone day (GDE) – Gemstone Institute registered society Hamburg). The competition offered a prize for the finest bejewelled dress watch, which was awarded by an international jury of expert jewellers and fashion editors. We do not know why the prize bore the "Baden-Baden" name. The society German gemstone day (GDE) – Gemstone Institute registered society Hamburg ceased to exist in 1979, which also meant the end of the competition.
Many iconic models won the "Goldene Rose von Baden-Baden", among them the "Happy Diamonds" by Chopard in 1976. From 1970 to 1974 and 1977 to 1978 the prize went to Omega for dress watches with interesting names such as "Ramses II", "Ibis", "Dimension 4", "Trinidad", "Osiris" and "Structura". In 1972 two fine watches were awarded the prize, Ebel's "Lucréce" and the "Mimosa" model by Baume Mercier.

Alfred Herrhausen was a German banker and chairman of the Deutsche Bank and one of the most important personalities in German economy in the 1970s and 1980s. The business economist with a degree began his career in the gas and electricity industry and eventually changed to the Deutsche Bank in 1969. From 1988 he was the sole spokesman of the bank's board and made the bank one of the most successful banks in international business. At the same time Herrhausen supported the concept of social justice and demanded debt cancellation for third world countries as well as more transparency in capitalist systems. Herrhausen was killed on November 30,1989 by a roadside bomb, for which the terrorist group "Red Army Faction" (RAF) claimed responsibility.
Quelle: www.hdg.de/lemo/biografie/alfred-herrhausen.html, as of 09/19/2024