DATE SOLD: 2012-05-06
LOT#: 1201-179
DESCRIPTION: EPW - Tiffany & Co, New York, made by H R Ekegren, Switzerland, historical, rare and perhaps unique two-time zone split-seconds chronograph minute-repeater with twin custom chronograph & tachymeter scales, 55mm, heavy 18K OF original Swiss case with gold cuvette, lock for split function, SW with unique setting features - the crown is pulled out prior to selecting one of two levers to set the independent time zone subsidiary dials, WED signed for the owner, Charles J Glidden of Lowell, Massachusetts (for whom we have biographical material) with photo emulsion of his wife, Lucy, applied to dial, fully capped lever escapement, at least 27J with much of the repeat mechanism concealed, wheel satin NI damascene, s#77911, matching number under dial and on case. The scales are most intriguing, the outer red ascending scale simply counting the seconds beginning at 35 and ending at 92, while the inner declining starts at 103 opposite the 35 second mark and descends to 39 at the 92 seconds mark, the scales being equal at 60 after one minute, thus for timing automotive speeds from 39 to 103 miles per hour. The watch was obviously made to fit the special needs of Glidden and his wife, who are famous as the first couple to drive around the world in an automobile in 1902 in a British Napier. Glidden was "an American telephone pioneer, financier and supporter of the automobile in the United States," according to Wikipedia, which contains an excellent article on this fascinating man, who worked with Alexander Graham Bell and set up phone lines in Manchester NH, as well as the first long-distance line from Lowell to Boston. Henri-Robert Ekegren (1823-1896), who worked closely with Tiffany, was of Swedish origin, established his firm in Geneva in 1857, won many awards and chronometer competitions at the Observatoire de Geneve, and became watchmaker to the King of Denmark (hence the Copenhagen mark on many of his watches), according to brief biographies of Ekegren and Koehn by Arnaud Tellier of the Patek Philippe Museum [our thanks go to Marguerite Hartung, research associate of the Patek Philippe Archives for providing this information]. Ekegren sold his company to Edouard Koehn in 1891, a watchmaker who rose through the ranks at Patek Philippe, next door to Ekegren. Koehn continued the relationship with Tiffany as well as duBois of Rio de Janeiro, producing watches "at the same level as Patek Philippe," to quote Tellier.
CONDITION: Mvt: GRO, good balance motion, good poise, fine lightly toned plates show minor occasional speckle or dirt, a few MFS, fine slots & settings, no oxide on bright work but some light spots on satin lever work; dial with light hl to the left of Lucy's portrait; hands in near mint original blue; original heavy gauge case shows very light wear, many MFS, no dents or dings; bow tight, crown shows very light wear; good glass crystal. A unique historical watch.
PRICE SOLD: $23,000
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