Watches

Skeleton Watch, ca. 1865

Appraisal: Skeleton Watch, ca. 1865

Transcript

GUEST: I brought you this skeletonized piece that I received from an aunt of mine, a great-aunt, years ago. And with the promise that I would never sell it, so it's been in a safety deposit box all these years, and I've had nothing done to it.

APPRAISER: It's fully skeletonized, which means it was cut out so that the light will pass all the way through it.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: And it's a key-wind watch. Has serpentine hands on the front, I'm going to flip it over so you can see the back. It sets and winds in the back with a key-wind, and it's signed by Haas. I believe this piece is an exhibition piece, I've never seen anything exactly like this. I believe it was made for the Paris Exposition of 1867.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: And it was put on display there to highlight their craftsmanship and their skills. The piece was made in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and I believe it was made right before the exposition. I would date it approximately 1865. One other thing I just want to hold up here, and if we can see, the light passes through the watch, you can see the skeletonization of it. Set it back down here. I think you could expect to realize between $10,000 to $12,000 for it at auction.

GUEST: Wow. Oh, really? (chuckles)

APPRAISER: Yes.

GUEST: Oh, wow.

APPRAISER: But I know you're not selling it, right?

GUEST: No. (chuckling) No, absolutely not.

APPRAISER: Promise to the aunt. Yeah.