Jean Dunand - Hong Kong: Watches Online Auction I Hong Kong Thursday, July 21, 2022 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Jean Dunand
    Year: Circa 2020
    Reference No: MTR.PA.BB.5206.02
    Movement No: 010
    Case No: 5206
    Model Name: Palace
    Material: Titanium and 18K white gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. CLA 02CMP, 53 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Jean Dunand deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 48.2 mm x 49.9 mm
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Jean Dunand international guarantee certificate stamped Jean Dunand by Christophe Claret SA dated 16th March 2020, instruction manual, loupe, pen, Jean Dunand signed leather briefcase and outer packaging

  • Catalogue Essay

    Coveted for making “piece uniques”, Jean Dunand habitually manufactures just one example of each reference, with no two watches being exactly identical. Backed by entrepreneur Thierry Oulevay with ingenious designs from the respected watchmaker, Christophe Claret, the haute horology brand was founded in 2003 as a homage to Jean Dunand. With admiration for modernity, the Swiss artist and designer was considered one of the Art Deco era’s most celebrated visionaries, whose vases, screens and other designs remain in-demand fixtures in esteemed collections today. Echoing his extraordinary hand and eye, Claret is also famed for his craft in high complication timepieces, with emphasis on his tourbillons and carillon watches with double-length cathedral gongs.

    Prompted by the highest levels of innovation, craftsmanship and design elements from the early 1900s, Jean Dunand launched the Palace in the 2010 Basel World, which enjoyed instant recognition by connoisseurs of both the art world and the watch community. Much like its name, the watch is an architectural structure that resembles a building more than a traditional timepiece. The wearable art piece draws inspiration from notable Art Deco constructs such as the Eiffel Tower and the Parisian Exposition Universelle in 1899. These buildings reflect the quest for modernity during the Industrial Revolution, with inherent design qualities of machine-made objects. Referencing the relative simplicity, symmetry and unvaried repetitive patterns of this period, the details are exhibited on the watch case and its core. To allow its wearer to admire the highly complex movement within, two large sapphire windows are used to cap this fascinating semi-skeletonised dial in its sizable case.

    The watchmaker gets a kick out of playing with the combination of complex and contrived concepts. Though sometimes expendable, these “artistic” and aesthetically beautiful mechanisms are accoladed by Claret’s peers and followers. Despite a traditional three-hand display of time, the Palace features a revolving linear GMT sub-register with a jumping retrograde hand, a power reserve indicator, a 60-minute chronograph and a tourbillon. The 72-hour power reserve indication is driven by a miniature bicycle chain below 12 o’clock, that transfers energy when the watch is being wound.

    Excluding its GMT dual time zone adjustment pusher at 6 o’clock, other gadgets are operated through the cog-like crown with a built-in mono-pusher that controls the chronograph function. In spite of the elaborate dial, Jean Dunand fuses form and function by highlighting its indicators and hands in red to enhance legibility.

    Borne by some of the most talented minds in the high luxury watches, the present Palace is an extremely rare specimen offered in “like-new” condition, complete with its original accessories. This piece’s unique modern heirloom is also accompanied by a loupe for collectors to enjoy the array of interesting features this wristwatch is offering.

Property from the Original Owner

862

Ref. MTR.PA.BB.5206.02
A unique, highly complicated and “like-new” titanium and white gold semi-skeletonised tourbillon monopusher chronograph wristwatch with center seconds, power reserve indication, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 2020
48.2 mm x 49.9 mm
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$120,000 - 240,000 
€14,900-29,700
$15,400-30,800

Sold for HK$693,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia 
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

Hong Kong: Watches Online Auction I

21-27 July 2022 (Registration ends 6pm HKT 26 July)