Jewellery, Watches, Antiquities and Objects of Vertu

A slim open faced quarter repeating fob watch, the gilt dial with scroll engraved centre detail and black Roman numerals, cylinder escape key wound movement signed ‘Moulinie, Geneve’, the repeater activated by lifting and depressing the crown, the engine-turned case stamped ‘18k’, with accompanying gold watch key with ratchet mechanism, in fitted tooled leather case, diameter 33mm. £400-£600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Private Collection of a Gentleman.

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The name ‘Moulinie’ traces back to a company ‘Moulinier & Bautte’ that produced pocket watch cases in Geneva during the last decade of the 18th century. Jean-François Bautte was a Swiss watchmaker and jeweller famous for founding the most complete watch manufactory of his time, with case fitters, engravers, watch makers, jewellers and goldsmiths all under one roof. He was also one of the inventors of the extra-thin watch.
From 1804 to 1826 the company traded as ‘Moulinier, Bautte & Moynier’. The partnership then separated to form ‘Bautte & Moynier’ and ‘Moulinier Aine & Cie.’, which changed names again to ‘Moulinier Frères & Cie’ after 1840. In 1862 the company exhibited during the World Exhibition in London as ‘Moulinie & Le Grand Roy’ and was awarded a medal. Twenty years later the name was once again different and was now registered as ‘Le Grand Roy & Fils’.