• Movement: gilded bar cylinder, plain flat three-arm balance, signed Czapek et Cie, à Genève• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, blued steel moon hands• Case: 18ct gold, the back with polychrome enamel painted central plaque depicting a pensive putti amongst clouds, borders of white champlevé enamel heightened with gold scrolling flowers and foliage, polished bezels, milled band, gold cuvette with apertures for winding/handset and engraved with movement details and signed Czapek i Spólka, w Genève, case and cuvette numbered 2359 

Habsburg Feldman, Antiquorum Geneva, 15 October 1989, lot 240
Antiquorum Hong Kong, 25 November 2006, lot 132

Movement: running at time of cataloguing. Dial: with chip around the dial fixing screw at 9 o'clock. Case: a couple of very small chips at the edge of central scene. Case overall with light marks and scatches, including to enamel, the border decration of case back with some small chips and losses.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Accompanied by a certificate from Czapek & Cie. A highly skilled watchmaker, Francisek Czapek was born in 1811 in Semonice in the Kingdom of Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), it was from here that his family later emigrated to Poland. Czapek took part in the Polish uprising and following its collapse, he fled to Switzerland in 1832. In 1836, Czapek met Antoni Patek Prawdzic, like him, a Polish émigré and together the pair founded the firm Patek, Czapek &  Cie on 1 May 1839. The partnership lasted only 6 years and was dissolved in 1845 with Czapek setting up his own business, Czapek & Cie with a new partner, Juliusz Gruzewski on 1 May 1845. Many of Czapek's watches, such as the present piece, were produced for the Polish market and frequently featured cases decorated with portraiture or scenes of a commemorative, historical or religious nature. Czapek became watchmaker to His Imperial Highness, Prince Napoleon and the firm had retail premises in Paris, Warsaw and Geneva. Czapek ceased trading in 1869 but 143 years later, in 2012, the company name was re-established.