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 fourteen carat gold filled automatic Rolex dress watch.  This is a rare example of a "presentation" watch made by Rolex for companies wishing to gift watches for loyal continual service.  They are two piece contract cases made in North America for North American companies such as; Hallmark Cards, Thiokol Chemical and with this example, St. Regis Paper Company.  These watches, aside form being very handsome, are quite an anomaly in the Rolex watch line.  Being that they were never made for retail sales, they were designed to look nothing like any other watch in their line.  Rolex did not make a watch that looked like this with an automatic movement.  The 'dress' offering at the time were mainly manual wind, Precision models, which had a much flatter profile.  It is also unusual in its case design; a large size for this period, and a thicker case to incorporate the automatic movement. Wide flat bezel, and quite long and wide chamfered lugs.  

The overall result is a very good looking, wearable and rare watch by modern standards.  The benefit of also having an automatic movement on a dress watch cannot be underestimated.  As mentioned, most Rolex dress watches at this time were manual wind.  The movement inside is not just any automatic movement either.  The caliber 1530 movement was launched by Rolex in 1957, and was a line in the sand for the watch maker.  They were the first movements to be fully made in house.  This is one of the earlier generation of the movement being only seventeen jeweled, but features the upgraded 'half moon' rotor, as opposed to the early butterfly versions.  They went on to make both a twenty five and twenty six jeweled examples.  These movements were regarded as dependable workhorses by the brand and were fitted to early Submariner and other models, such as the Air King.  As can be seen from the images, the movement is in excellent condition.

The case back has the original presentation to a Mr. Harold R. Hansen in 1965 for twenty five years of service to the St. Regis Paper Company.  Given the transient nature of today's employee, spending that long of a tenure at one company seems almost unthinkable. Making that service almost as vintage as the watch!  The case back also features the 14K gold filled mark.  Inside the case back is the unique serial number for this watch, and the Rolex logo.  Given that these watches were  not cased in Switzerland, the serial numbers do not follow that of Rolex with regard to production dates.  The case is presented in superb, very lightly worn condition, and unpolished.

The dial is a gorgeous semi-gloss off white with applied coffin shaped markers with angled detailing.  There is a printed minute track around the outer edge.  The dial is signed "Swiss" at the bottom and very appealing, simple "Rolex" below the applied coronet. There is luminous material applied to the dial, and in the center of the original alpha hands.  All of which is present and has turned into a soft, handsome pumpkin colour.  The dial is all original, and in perfect condition throughout.

This watch represents an interesting part of the Rolex brand history.  Also, a rare one.  Not many of these watches come to market, presumably as they were quite cherished possessions by their prior owners, and not many employees would have qualified for such a gift.  This watch also comes on presumably its original Rolex stamped lizard band with large and rare coronet buckle.


Price $0.00

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Item Dimensions
Case width
1.38 inches (3.5052cm)
Case length
1.58 inches (4.0132cm)