Founded in Hong Kong in the 19th century by Swiss native Jacques Ullmann, J. Ullmann & Co., Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tientsin was established against the backdrop of the expansion of Swiss watchmaking in the Chinese market. Swiss watches had become very popular in the China region by mid-19th century, partly due to the success of the Bovet brand, selling under the Chinese name “Bo Wei” and became synonymous with “watch” in Chinese culture. By the late 1880s, J. Ullmann & Co. has set up a store in the heart of the Central district in Hong Kong, at 74 Queen’s Road Central. After Jacques Ullmann passed away in 1909, J. Ullmann & Co. continued to expand in China under Bernheim Ullmann, opening branches in Shanghai and Tientsin.
Cased in an exquisitely engine-turned yellow gold hunter case, the present pocket watch features an intricately engraved hinged gold cuvette, a signature J. Ullmann design. The white enamel dial is characterised by a classic design with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, and luscious gold hands. Fitted with a gilt keyless lever movement, the present watch is presented with the Grand Sonnerie, meaning that it can automatically chime the hours on every hour and hours and quarters on every quarter. It is often regarded as a grail complication by collectors and hearing it on a century-old pocket watch is always astounding. The present pocket watch also features a carillon minute repeater, meaning the quarters are chimed on three gongs and not on the usual two making it even more complex, rare and collectible. The going and striking trains wound alternately by the crown, quarter striking and minute repeating with three hammers on three gongs.
Preserved in excellent condition, this elusive and rare timepiece offers much more than an exceptional mechanical timekeeping instrument but is an object of art imbued with history and heritage, and it would surely appeal to the horological enthusiasts.
