French work from the 1910s - Lot 23

French work from the 1910s Delicate "Croix" pendant concealing a pocket watch in 750‰ yellow gold and 950‰ platinum, enhanced with translucent green and sky-blue enamel on a guilloché ground and white enamel fillets. Applied on one side with fine plant motifs in 950‰ platinum set with rose-cut diamonds. On the other side, round case (10 mm), gilded dial, Arabic numerals for the hours, chemin de fer for the minutes. The bélière in 950‰ platinum enhanced with rose-cut diamonds. Hinged opening revealing its cruciform hand-wound mechanical movement, the interior also applied with translucent blue enamel on a guilloché background. Diamond Workshop hallmark. English import hallmarks (London). Dimensions - without bezel: 3.7x2.5m. P. Gross weight: 18g. (Glass and hour hand missing, movement as is, minor enamel chips). Accompanied by a fine 750‰ white gold chain with forçat link, spring clasp. Length: 51cm. Mesh width: 1mm. Weight: 2.3g. The ingenious movement of this watch-cross corresponds to the patent registered in December 1908 by Emile-Numa FRIEZ, watchmaker in Besançon, Doubs (N°397.084) under the title "Mouvement de montre en forme de croix, de hauteur minime". To be compared with several models sold at auction: Sotheby's New York, December 4, 2012 (lot 56, Verger Frères and Tiffany &Co), Crédit Municipal de Paris, September 25, 2020 (lot 114) and Cortrie Spezial Auktionen, Hamburg, May 8, 2021 (lot 4326, attributed to Verger Frères).