Thomas Engel. A very fine and rare silver and silver-gilt openface keyless lever single-hand watch with retrograde seconds and bow winding and setting mechanism

This lot is offered without reserve. On lots mark… Read more

The Property of an Important Private CollectorThe following two lots, 107 and 108, are wonderful and extremely well-preserved examples of timepieces made by the celebrated Professor Thomas Engel. Professor Thomas Engel (b. 1927 in Germany, d. 2015 in Switzerland), inventor, author and watch aficionado, collector and maker, was an international coryphée in the field of researching polymers. He held around 120 patents in organic chemistry and was awarded numerous honours and prices in this field, including the 1972 "Diesel Prize" which he jointly won with Dr. Wernher von Braun, one of the most important rocket developers and specialist of space exploration. Professor Engel was not only a famous watch collector but also a passionate "self-made" maker of technically outstanding timepieces. From the moment he first held a pocket watch in his hands, incidentally a Breguet, he knew he had found a passion that would take his life in another direction. Within the horological community, he is acknowledged for his understanding of the life and works of Abraham Louis Breguet, on whom he also published a biography. His interest spanned beyond the average collector, applying his knowledge and skills to watchmaking, producing watches made in the style and technique of Breguet. Of outstanding quality and finesse, these so-called "Engel Breguets", such as these examples, have become highly sought-after collector's pieces.

Thomas Engel. A very fine and rare silver and silver-gilt openface keyless lever single-hand watch with retrograde seconds and bow winding and setting mechanism

Signed Thomas Engel, Dessiné par Th. Engel pour Commémorer A.L. Breguet, no. 29, circa 1985

Details

Thomas Engel. A very fine and rare silver and silver-gilt openface keyless lever single-hand watch with retrograde seconds and bow winding and setting mechanism
Signed Thomas Engel, Dessiné par Th. Engel pour Commémorer A.L. Breguet, no. 29, circa 1985
Movement: manual, 19 jewels
Dial: engine-turned silver, souscription-type, engraved Roman hour numerals on outer brushed chapter ring, outermost brushed ring with five-minute divisions, semicircular gilt sector for the retrograde seconds, single blued steel arrow hand
Case: three-body, polished, brushed and engine-turned, ball-shaped winding crown and setting mechanism, push-fit back over glazed cover engraved “Dessiné par Th. Engel pour Commémorer A.L. Breguet” on the border
Signed: case, dial and movement, case stamped with Thomas Engel punch mark and numbered 29 - 378
Dimensions: 46 mm. diam.
With: later Thomas Engel fitted wooden box

Special Notice

This lot is offered without reserve. On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.

Lot Essay

This very elegant and attractive watch was made by Thomas Engel to commemorate Abraham Louis Breguet. It is designed in the manner of Breguet’s famous “souscription” watches with a single hand reading the hours and minutes at five-minute intervals, and features in addition retrograde seconds.

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