About this lot

Description

circa 1965, the retailer signed, circular silvered dial, 12mm diameter, with gold coloured batons and hands, unsigned and unnumbered jewelled mechanical crown wind movement, calibre 60, case, 14mm diameter, verso snap on, plain and polished, numbered 860025 6, interior numbered 795 with Swiss marks for 18ct gold, Geneva, together with Poinçon de Maître: Hammer Head number 122 for Guyot & Cie (SA), to an integral bracelet of hollow three section links terminating in a fold over catch, mark of Gay Frères, stamped 750, 34g ex movement and presented in a case marked Wilson & Gill, Regent St London Footnote: This example is particularly interesting and collectable due, in part, to the manufacturer of the bracelet – Gay Frères.Arguably the world’s most important and influential watch bracelet manufacturer, Gay Frères was founded in 1835 and they were originally specialists in jewellery and pocket watch chains, especially very complex pieces in precious metals. As the wristwatch became more popular, they changed production from watch chains to watch bracelets, and by the early 20th century they were well established as the most significant manufacturer of complicated watch bracelets in Geneva.They supplied bracelets to Rolex (GF designed the Oyster bracelet), Omega, Heuer, Universal Geneve and Zenith, and designed and produced the iconic bracelet for Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak A-Series. Their most famous creation was the ‘Beads of Rice’ bracelet, used extensively by both Patek Piillippe and Vacheron. In addition, they supplied their jewellery to such famous ateliers as Van Cleef & Arpels, Garrard and Hermès and the pieces they produced in the 1960s and '70s are some of the most sought after by collectors.As part of Rolex’s ‘industrial rationalisation’, Gay Frères was bought by the manufacturer in 1998 and continues to operate producing bracelets.

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