Cheffins
Lot 290
Cartier - An 18ct gold exceptionally slim hunter dress pocket watch, circa 1921, the signed parchment coloured dial, 34mm diameter, with black Roman numerals, blued moon hands and bar minute track, 18 jewel crown wind movement signed E.W.&C.C. Co. INC. decorated with the 'Côtes de Genève', case, 50mm diameter, 6mm thick, numbered 19548 11360 to the bezel, numbered 998 to the verso inner edge, front cover hinged at 9 o'clock, verso snap on, both plain and polished, inner numbered 19548 998 with London import marks for 18ct gold and sponsor's mark of Jacques Cartier, 69g gross, presented in the distinctive red leather case, interior signed and lined in cream coloured silkThe European Watch and Clock Company Inc. (E.W.&C.C. Co. Inc.) was founded in 1919, a joint venture between Edmund Jaeger from Jaeger-LeCoultre and Cartier, with the intention of producing mechanisms exclusively for Cartier wrist and pocket watches. At the time, JLC were the leaders in innovative watch movement manufacturing.Cartier were jewellers rather than watchmakers, and although they worked with other movement manufacturers such as Vacheron & Constantin, Movado and Audemars Piguet, many of their premier items featured EWC movements, built at the Jaeger-LeCoultre factory in Le Sentier Switzerland.This is a particularly fine and rare example, featuring an extremely slim movement, even by today’s standards.Crystal - In good condition. A very, very minor grizzle at the edge between 11 and 12 o'clock, visible under 10x magnification.Dial - In good condition with no apparent damage or deterioration. Some very, very minor spotting under 10x magnification. Some very minor dust specks trapped under the crystal.Movement - Appears to be in working order but has not been tested for timekeeping. Crown engages and disengages as it should, and the hands move freely in both directions. Hallmarks clear and crisp.Case - Minor surface scratches commensurate with wear. Spring for the front cover a little tired and the front cover does not stay open at full 90 degree to the dial. release catch positive, but the plunger needs to be depressed to close the dial, rather than a traditional 'snap shut'.
