Echoes of Elegance: Boucheron-Inspired Viennese Art Deco Watch

This striking Art Deco watch, echoing the finesse and craftsmanship akin to Boucheron, hails from Vienna. Crafted in 14K bi-colour gold, it features beautifully detailed enamelling and a classic floral motif, set against the bold, geometric lines typical of the era. It's adorned with 42 old mine cut diamonds, together weighing approximately 1.30 carats. Celebrated not just for its beauty but also its history, this watch has been a highlight at exhibitions like the Antwerp Diamond Museum and DIVA, making it a prized piece for any collector.

Antique jewelry object group: ladies watch, pendant and brooch

Condition: very good condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Austria (Vienna)

Style: Art Deco - Art Deco is an eclectic artistic and design style which had its origins in Paris in the first decades of the 20th century. The style originated in the 1920s and continued to be employed until after World War II. The term "art deco" first saw wide use after an exhibition in 1966, referring to the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes that was the culmination of high-end style moderne in Paris. Led by the best designers in the decorative arts such as fashion, and interior design, Art Deco affected all areas of design throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including architecture and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as painting, the graphic arts and film. At the time, this style was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern.
  -  See also: Art Deco or more info on styles

Style specifics: Abstract motives and geometrical forms are quite typical for the Art Deco period. Art Deco moved away from the soft pastels and organic forms of its style predecessor, Art Nouveau, and embraced influences from many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, and Futurism. Its popularity peaked in Europe during the Roaring Twenties and continued strongly in the United States through the 1930s. Although many design movements have political or philosophical roots or intentions, Art Deco was purely decorative.

Extra background information: While this exquisite piece is only marked with Viennese hallmarks, the compelling visual similarities with designs showcased in a distinguished Boucheron tome strongly suggest its origins from a house of Boucheron's calibre. Notably, the jewel is crafted in 14K gold, unlike the typical 18K gold used in French pieces, aligning with the material standards of Vienna rather than Paris. This association is further reinforced by a photograph in the Boucheron book, an image strikingly similar to our watch, both of which are featured prominently among our collection photographs.

Extra on Boucheron: Boucheron - A leading French jewelry firm, founded in 1858 in the Palais Royal, Paris, by Frédéric Boucheron (1830-1902) and now having its main establishment at 26 Place VendOme, Paris, with branches in London and elsewhere. Frédéric Boucheron was succeeded by his son Louis (1874-1959), in turn succeeded by his son Gerard (b. 1910), whose son Alain (b. 1948) is now active in the business. The London office, established in 1907, is at 180 New Bond St. In 1960 the firm at the request of the Shah of Iran, set up in Tehran the display of the Royal Jewelry Collection. Boucheron is noted as a specialist in gems as well as a designer of luxury and medium-priced jewelry.

Period: ca. 1925
  -  (events and facts in 1925)

Source of inspiration: Mother Nature (see also: flower symbolism)

Material: 14K bi-color gold (yellow and white), although most of this jewel is in yellow gold, the diamonds are set in white gold. This finds it origin in a much older period (see explanation on silver on gold).
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Technique: Enamelling is an old and widely-adopted technology. The ancient Egyptians applied enamels to pottery and stone objects. The ancient Greeks, Celts, Russians, and Chinese also used enameling processes on metal objects. Enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and flows and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal, glass or ceramic. According to some sources, the word enamel comes from the High German word smelzan (to smelt) via the Old French esmail. Used as a noun, "an enamel" is a usually small decorative object, coated with enamel coating, such as a champlevé or a cloisonné (different techniques).

Diamonds: 42 various old mine brilliant cut diamonds with a total estimated weight of approx. 1.30 crt.
Note: All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Total diamond weight: approx. 1.30 crt.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: The hallmark is a horse head with a letter "W", wich was in use in Vienna, Austria after 1922.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: brooch width 2.97 cm (1.17 inch), watch height 4.50 cm (1.77 inch)

Weight: 21.50 gram (13.82 dwt)

Reference Nº: 11151-0001

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

See also our:
jewelry with enamel, yellow gold jewelry, jewelry with rose cut diamonds, jewelry with diamond, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
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August - September - October - November or December.


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