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 16238 model. This example has a very special, and a very rare black 'onyx' dial that featured in only two Rolex models; The Day Date and this the Datejust. It may look like a normal glossy dial, but it is not. This is an actual piece of cut of stone featuring solid gold applied six and nice in Arabic numerals and set with a princess cut diamond into the centers. These dials were all made by Rolex at the beginning of the 1990's for a few years of production, in very limited numbers. The dial is no longer in production, and making this a very rare and collectible dial!

This is known as a non-luminous dial, with the correct, original, non-luminous filled, all eighteen carat gold baton hands. These hands do not have the holes in for filling with the luminous material. There is also no applied Tritium luminous plots on the hour markers on the dial. The dial confirms this by being stamped "Swiss Made", and not the "T Swiss T", below the six o'clock position.

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. These later models can be identified as they do not have the earlier, characteristic, 'pie pan' style dial. This model also comes with 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 has the spring bar holes exposed from the side, a 'holes' case, which was phased out around the mid to late 1990's.

The watch was made circa 1991 with serial number X,505,XXX. Now over thirty two years old, the watch is officially 'vintage'! The watch is in essentially "New Old Stock" original condition, unpolished, and superb throughout with perhaps only very light wear, if any.

The original solid eighteen carat gold jubilee bracelet is very tight with the hidden deployant buckle showing ver   little wear. Not only is the watch presented in this condition, it is also a "full set". It has the plastic Rolex bezel protector, outer box, inner box and, most importantly, the original punched paperwork from Rolex. There are six removable links in place, which, if needed, can be removed to make the bracelet smaller.

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, complete with a Rolex service card, and in almost new condition.

The watch comes with a Foundwell one year warranty against mechanical.  failure.

 


Price $31,895.00

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Item Dimensions
Case Width
1.42 inches (3.6068cm)