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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An automatic stainless steel and eighteen carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 16018 model. This example has a very special, and a very rare birch burled wood dial that featured in only two Rolex models; The Day Date and this; the Datejust. This is an actual piece of hand selected milled piece of stunning burled wood featuring solid gold applied classic baton markers. These dials were all made by Rolex at the beginning of the 1970's, '80's and '90's and very limited numbers. The dial is no longer in production, and making this a very rare and collectible dial! They are much more common to find in a Day Date model than the Datejust.  But, not having the day of the week window at the top of the dial allows for more of this fabulous wood!

These wood dials are non-luminous. Although the dial is in fact stamped "T Swiss T", no tritium was applied to the hour markers. This was very common place for stone and wood dials alike from this time in Rolex's history. The original Rolex eighteen carat yellow old baton hands are filled with Tritium through the center of the hands. The lume is in good condition and has toned into a beautiful coffee colour.

The watch is powered by a Rolex, Swiss made, thirty-one jewel automatic calibre 3135 movement that powered the majority of all Rolex models since its launch in 1988, from the Datejust to the Submariner. This model features the more ergonomic 'Quick Set' date function, and the newly designed smaller profile case, all of which were introduced in the 1970's. This case does not have the spring bar holes exposed from the side, a 'no holes' case, which was still not common place on the steel Datejust cases from this period.

The watch was made circa 1988 with serial number R,697,XXX. Now over thirty seven years old, the watch is officially 'vintage'! The watch is in superb original condition, very lightly polished, with signs of only very light wear. All the hallmarks are still visible on the back side of the case and show no signs of seeing a polishing wheel.

These watches are exceptionally hard to find, let alone in this condition. If the desire is there for something subtle, but beautiful, this watch very much ticks the boxes. These dials. Very rare and quite special in the iconic Datejust case, this is a watch that will only become in greater demand as time passes! This offers the opportunity own one of the most beautiful Datejust models made by Rolex.

The watch comes with a Foundwell one year warranty against mechanical failure. The paperwork is not present, and the service history of the watch is unknown.


Price $17,450.00

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Item Dimensions
Case Width
1.42 inches (3.6068cm)