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 ladies automatic solid eighteen carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 69178 model. This is THE smaller size Rolex. If you are looking to add the 26mm case size to your wrist, this is the model to get. Not only did the lady President get its own bracelet, just like the men's size. The concealed Crownclasp President bracelet gives the watch a seamless appearance on the wrist, allowing the uninterrupted flow of gold to take center stage. But this extra special and rare examples were fitted with finely cut stone dials. They came in a number of different hard-stones such as; onyx, malachite, coral, tigers ete and this, perhaps the best looking; lapis lazuli. 

Being that these watches did not need luminous material, as they wre more jewel than watch, the dial is simply stamped "Swiss" at the base, and the hands are solid baton hands, with no space for luminous material. This is a factory, original and rare dial. Being a natural stone, no two dials are the same, and this example has the beautiful natural inclusions running through the bottom half of the dial.There are no flaws or cacks in the  material either.

The watch is powered by a Rolex, Swiss made, twenty nine jewel automatic calibre 2135 movement that powered the majority of all Rolex models since its launch in 1983.  This model comes with the more ergonomic 'Quick Set' date function meaning that by pulling out the winding crown one step, you can engage the date wheel and turn it to the desired date. This case does not have the spring bar holes exposed from the side, a 'no holes' case, which was introduced around the late 1980's, early 1990's to the ladies watches. The watch is fitted to its original Rolex Jubilee stainless steel and eighteen carat gold bracelet with seven removable links in place, which, if needed, can be removed to make the bracelet smaller. 

The watch was made circa 1987 with serial number R,534,XXX. The watch is in original condition, lightly polished, if at all with wear commensurate with age. The bracelet does have some sag to it, as is expected with gold bracelets now close to forty years old. The watch does not come with its original papers or box. We do not know the service history of the watch, but the watch is running well. The watch comes with a Foundwell one year warranty against mechanical failure.

If you are looking for one of the most beautiful versions of this iconic watch that has found itself on the wrists of a plethora of iconic people, then look no further than this version.


Price $16,995.00

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Item Dimensions
Watch Case
1.024 inches (2.60096cm)