1

A Day
Observed

A story presented by

Scene 1:
‘Morning’

It was a bright cold day with glassy surfaces that looked hard.
Into the square frame he stood as if in a dream.

What emerged was precisely what he expected to find: a reflection of memory images. Contemplating his face in the photo frame he waited.

1960s lucite and chrome 3 image photo frame

By the steady hands of his watch, he listened to time. Every day for the past sixteen days he saw her. Silver lingered in the crease of
an open book.

Rolex burlwood dial, Jubilee bracelet Miniature
oar English university trophy, sterling silver.

So absorbed in his thoughts
he hardly saw the platinum catch-all, the key, or the revelation locked inside those lapis lazuli cufflinks tossed unmistakably in cold blue.

Hans Hanson catch-all. Mid-century, Danish sterling silver. Stirrup money clip, by Hermès. Padlock keyring, sterling silver " Tie bar-slide " Round lapis lazuli cufflinks" Square cufflinks, two tone rose and yellow gold, diamond."

Only by whirling on his heel could he hope to comprehend
the panorama.

Shoe horn, circa 1930. American sterling silver
Scene 2:
‘Noon’

He remained.Trapped in that enormous room,
unmistakably familiar in feeling yet so peculiar.

Above the mantle was
displayed an Austrian hound
of impeccable integrity.

Hagenauer sculpture, 1930

His gaze fell on the letter opener. By accident she had learnt more about his life from the contents of that letter than anywhere.

Dunhill letter opener with lighter top, circa 1950

Cleopatra’s eye reflected
the sun. Through the hypnotism
of precious metals there
emerged a dark slender shadow.

Cleopatra’s eye magnifying glass. Mid-century, gold plated
Hermès weighted pen. Silver plated.

A lighter presented itself, smooth to the touch
it gave the impression of
intelligent company.

Table lighter St Dupont, circa 1960. Gold plate
Scene 3:
‘Evening’

All this time light was receding from the room.

“I should explain why I spend so much time here”, said the silhouette. Leaves moved like shadows across her eyes.

Hermès rope bottle opener. Plated silver.

It’s not too late to turn back. Time moved with faint sounds.

Venini hourglass. Hand-blown lurid Murano glass.

He unscrewed the telescopic cup, rolled and remained still. Black eyes on the dice prophesied a new cycle.

Telescopic cup, J. E. Cauldwell. Gold plated. Dice,
Cartier for America. Vitreous enamel glass, silver

Staring down at the varnished surface her mouth worried him while her eyes examined the gold cufflink.

Audemar Piguet evening watch. gold plated, Roman dial, alligator strap
Scene 4:
‘Night’

Everything went crashing black.

Pale graceful hands placed
the gold stud box delicately
on the table.

Men’s Edwardian jewellery box, 1910. Gold plated.
Mid-century British cigar ashtray. Sterling silver and crystal.

He lit a match to make sure the watch had really stopped. Smoke lingered from its vesta case.

Realist wrapped tobacco leaf march vesta. Silver.

As the travel clock neared
one the figure vanished into dappled shadows.

Art Deco Jaeger LeCoultre travel clock.
Gold and silver plated. Retailed by Aspray.

On the newly varnished table two bronze shot cups sat alive like in a dream.

Tooth shot cup by Foundwell. Bronze and silver plated.
Set of 4, 3 silver 1 gold. Heath & Midleton champagne decanters circa 1900.
Sterling silver and glass.
The End

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy, creative direction OK-RM,
notes by Kate O’Brien and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy,
creative direction OK-RM
notes by Kate O’Brien
and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

Early and Rare Sterling Silver Gorham Martini Mixing Bucket

Golf Cocktail Shaker
and Matching Golf Bag Cup

Sterling Silver Woven Bottle Coaster

Foundwell

A SELECTION OF ITEMS BY THE PRODUCER OF
CRAFTED GOODS & PURVEYOR OF ANTIQUE WATCHES,
JEWELLERY & OTHER SUCH OBJECTS

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A stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak automatic wristwatch. This is a rare mid-size version of Gerald Genta's sporting watch icon. This might well be the most interesting yet. This dial is a rare blue colour which varies from a light navy to a midnight in low light. This early example, all steel watch, may not be the safe queen some look for, but it is a rare and unpolished model with this clour dial and automatic, not quartz movement.

The dial on this watch is the crowning glory and most desirable feature of an already cool watch! It is the ‘Petite Tapisserie' found on the first Royal Oak Jumbos, and on mostly all Royal Oaks from the ‘80s and ‘90s, and also on the first Royal Oak Offshore models bearing reference 25721. The squares are extremely small and the pattern is tight compared to the later executions. They are laborious to make with the brass dials being engraved by a burin, a precision metalwork chisel, that reproduces the motif on a disc attached to the machine, like a pantograph. A pointer rotates across the disc from the periphery to the center. The system is combined with a tool that forms the little lozenges between the pyramidal squares and takes between 20 and 50 minutes, depending on the dial's diameter. It's a delicate operation. A mere skip is all it takes to damage the piece as the slightest impact is as visible as dust on a mirror. For this technique to be applied to these smallest of case sizes is quite remarkable.

This model includes the date located at the three o’clock position.  The AP logo is cut from white gold and pinned to the dial at the twelve o’clock position, along with the Tritium filled hour markers. These dials are very complicated and exceptionally expensive to create.

The watch is powered by the automatic caliber 2140 AP movement.  This is a thin, four millimeter thick, thirty one jewel, movement with 21 carat gold rotor, with the movement's balance wheel oscillating 28,800 vibrations per hour, vph, and having a power reserve of forty two hours.  It was adapted from the Jaeger LeCoultre caliber 960.  It was introduced by AP in 1996, and remained in use until 2012.  A super, high quality and very reliable watch movement.

After celebrating its 50th birthday last year, the Royal Oak, along with the Patek Philippe Nautilus, both designed by Gérald Genta, are now the most iconic ‘sports’ watches ever designed. This is an earlier example than the blue one on the website. This has the earlier deployant buckle, which opens from the middle, like the larger size case bracelets, and is numbered 12XXX on the back, and serial number E36XXX. The condition is preowned, but unpolished, which is how these watches must be maintained. Polishing them ruins all the original, intricate case angles.  

This is a great watch to wear. Rare in itself, very few examples being produced by AP. Although a smaller size, it wear very well, and is perfect for those looking for a smaller take on the sporting icon.  This example dates to circa 1998.  It does not come with the box or original paper work.


Price $17,895.00

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Item Dimensions
Case Size (not inc. crown)
1.299 inches (3.29946cm)