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

Shopping Bag

Your cart is empty.


An Omega Olympic “Nuit spatiale” pocket watch with split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute register, two piece, non-slip black enamel coated case, ref. MG 6713.  These very special and very rare pieces were made in a small batch for the Pan American Games at Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). 

A split-second chronograph, also called a double chronograph or rattrapante chronograph, enables the timer to measure and compare two separate events simultaneously.  These time recording devices have been used across all types of sport from motor racing to the Olmpic Games.  More often than not they are simply just stop watches.  This example also has a pocket watch, and so will keep the time of the day.

Omega has a long running and special relationship with athletics timing.  Omega made its debut in sports during the Gordon Bennett international ballooning Cup in 1917; since then Omega has gone on to be the official timekeeper at 21 Olympic Games.  In 1936 Omega set the remarkable World precision record of 97.8 points at the Kew-Teddington observatory in England.

They have been the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games since 1932, and has introduced many innovations to the way sports are timed.  Back in 1932 Omega became the first watchmaker to time an entire Olympic Games, using thirty chronographs and one watchmaker being present throughout the whole event!

Fast forward to 1966 and we find this piece.  Not only has the case been designed to be held in the hand, with this coating that enables it to be more securly held under perspiration or precipitation, but Omega also developed this plastic case to house the watch with a lanyard that can be worn around the neck and operate simply the timer through the pusher on the top left.

The watch is powered by the Omega Caliber 1131, gilt brass, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, mono-metallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator.  A superbly accurate and well made piece of watch making history.  The movement has serial number 2,033,XXX stamped onto the bridge.  All of these are believed to have been made in 1966.

The watch, and accompanying case are in superb condition.  There is no issue to report on either the watch or the case that holds it.  This is a superb piece of both Omega and sports timing history that rarely come up for sale, especially complete


Price $3,695.00

×

Enquire
Item Dimensions
Case Width of Plastic Outer
3.75 inches (9.525cm)