I have a Yellow Gold Repetition a Minutes, Angre, Spiral Breuget pocketwatch
with trente six rubis, made by G. Billian of Sohn, Zurich, serial #
10111. When was is made and how much is is worth?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 16 Apr 2004 17:08 PDT

Does it look anything like this:

http://www.antique-watch.com/des/w5094.html

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Clarification of Question by jdoiter-ga on 16 Apr 2004 22:43 PDT

pafalafa-ga,  The pocket in question sits in a safety deposit box and
belongs to a friend of mine. I have e-mailed him the picture of the
Zenith pocketwatch you sent, but he won't be able to comment on the
silmilarity of it his before the middle of next week. I called him and
asked whether he recalled seeing any other distinguishing
characteristics about it, and he said that he remembered there being a
swirling beaded pattern on it, and no engraving on the movement  other
than that, perhaps, pertaining to speed. I now regret that I hadn't
actually seen the watch myself, so that I could have told you how
similar or dissimilar it was the the one you pictured in your intial
response.  -Jim Deuter

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Apr 2004 04:37 PDT

Jim,

Thanks for the feedback.  

I've found two watches now which share some of the features of the
watch you described -- both are circa 1900, and both are priced at
several thousands of dollars.

One of the watches does appear to have a swirling, beaded pattern on
it, but it is ornately engraved, and also bears a minature painted
image on its cover:

http://personal.centric.net/arlenesantiques/rep1.htm

Both watches also chime...does your friend's watch still keep time,
and if so, does it chime?

Quite possibly your friend's watch is of a similar age and caliber,
and is similarly valued.  However, it will be difficult to say
anything more precisely about it without a visual comparison, and even
then, there seem to be so few watches of this description on the
market, that there is little information with which to make a
comparison of its likely value.

Additionally, I haven't had much luck, yet, in tracking down any
information on some of the specifics you mentioned, such as the
watchmaker, Billian.

With so many unknowns, it may be difficult to get much further than
this.  Probably, only a professional in the antique watches business
would be able to offer a formal appraisal (is "Antinques Roadshow"
coming to your friend's neighborhood anytime soon..?).

However, if your friend could look at, and comment on the links I've
provided, it would certainly be a help.

Cheers.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by jdoiter-ga on 17 Apr 2004 11:13 PDT

Dear Pafalafa-ga:  It just occured to me after I responded to your
last reply, that the pocketwatch in question here may actually have
been MADE by Breguet FOR G. Billian, who lived in Sohn, Zurich. Is
that a possibility?  Again, thanks for your continuing efforts.  Best,
 -Jim

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Apr 2004 11:43 PDT

Jim,

Thanks, and do keep me posted on your friend's thoughts after he looks
at the online photos.  As for Billian being the owner...sure, it could
be.

I look forward to hearing back from you on this.

paf

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Clarification of Question by jdoiter-ga on 22 Apr 2004 20:03 PDT

Paf: Oh, and 6), The chimes, I'm told, sound very much like the those
of the Haas that you linked me to. 7) The stamped logos  surrounding
10111 are on the inside lid of the second front cover. There are 3 or
four lids, it seems

My friend intends to take more pictures of the watch to allow better
detail.  Will know more soon.

Sincerely,  Jim

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 23 Apr 2004 20:57 PDT

Howdy Jim,

Your original question asked when the watch was made, and what's it
worth.  My best guess is circa 1900, and in the neighborhood of $5
grand (but it's a big neighborhood, and that figure could easily be
w-a-a-a-y off).

I'd also guess it was made by G. Billian & Sohn (and son!) rather than
coming from a place called "Sohn"...I haven't been able to find any
leads on a company by this name, however.

Beyond that, I'm not sure how to go forward on this.  It's a bit like
the old "telephone" game, with your friend passing info to you, and
you to me and the other researchers here -- but I'm afraid some of the
key details are perhaps lost in translation.

If you or your friend can find a way to post links of detailed photos
of the watch, it may be possible to do some more informed detective
work.

Beyond that, though, you'ld be best off either (a) talking to a
professional in the field of horological appraisal or, (b) posting
your information to a specialty website that deals in old
pocketwatches, in the hopes that some of the site visitors will
recognize the watch in question.

If you have suggestions as to how we can move ahead on this, and get
you the information that would e a satisfactory answer, I'd very much
appreciated hearing your ideas.

Thanks a lot. 

pafalafa-ga

could you please give the correct name of this watch? I need the exact
label on the it. Thanks

Thank you for your reply. There is no name on the dial of the watch,
and the only other identifying marks on the back are two tiny boxes
containing unreadable markings on either side of the #10111. Above
each of the tiny boxes are what appear to be shell-shaped logos.

jdoiter-ga,

Hello.  I'm not sure you noticed my Request for Clarification earlier
(above, right below your question).

Could you have a lokk at the link I mentioned:

http://www.antique-watch.com/des/w5094.html

and let me know how closely this resembles the watch you possess.

Thanks.

pafalafa-ga

Pafalafa-ga,

Thank you for forwarding more photos of antique pocketwatches which I
will forward to the owner of the G.Billian piece. He told me that the
watch does keep time and indeed, does chime. With one click of the
crown-button, it chimes the hour; with two clicks, the quarter hour;
with three clicks, the minutes past the quarter hour(s).  Fascinating.

Also, I will forward to my friend the site of antinque pocketwatches
you sent with your last reply.  I believe he intends to take some
photographs of the watch when he returns to Chicago this week.

Alas, "Antiques Roadshow has come and gone. I'll keep you posted of
further results from this end.  Cheers.  -Jim Deuter

Hello, Paf.  Upon looking at some (not in perfect focus) pictures of
the Billian pocketwatch, I can give you some more information. 
Specifically:
1) The movement, which is covererd by a crystal overlay, is virtually
idential to that of the "Maison B. Haas" pocketwatch that you linked
me to.
2) The crown appears to be onyx with a gold button on top.
3) It has very thin, elegant black Roman numerals and hands on the
Porcelain (?) white dial (starting at the 9'o'clock position).
4) There is a small slide bar on the side to activate the hr./min./sec. chimes.
5) Under "Spiral Breguet" is reads: ""Balancier Compense."
Hope this additional information helps.  Best, Jim

Thanks, Paf, about the clarification about the word "sohn" (son). 
That makes sense.  Also will try to send you pictures of the watch as
soon as I can.  I appreciate your efforts.  Best, Jim