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, Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer reference 16570 model with a glossy black dial with the unmistakable Explorer configuration.  These models have a much more "vintage" feel than the more recent larger examples.  They retain much of the original styling from the introduction in 1989.

The example is complete with a fixed 24-hour outer bezel, familiar dial configuration and signature GMT hand, and of course a small "Explorer II" script just below a printed Rolex logo towards the 12 o'clock. Powering the model is Rolex's caliber 3185, an automatic caliber capable of a 50-hour power and protected via a Rolex signature solid caseback. 

Notably, as it was offered from 1989 to 2011, the ref. 16570 Explorer II spans the switch at the Crown from tritium luminous material to LumiNova. This being a model from 2000 is one of the fist Super LumiNova examples, transitioning from the "Swiss" dial of the LumiNova, and leaving the Tritium examples to the past.

Made circa 2000 with a serial number P731XXX engraved between the lugs. The watch is in superb original condition.  It is unpolished, still having the case back sticker present.  It comes on a very tight 2000 production, stainless steel Oyster bracelet, with the improved flip lock deployant that was found on the Submariner models. This was another upgrade that happened to these more recent examples. The watch is also presented with original Rolex signed papers, 

This watch is really the only sport watch in the Rolex stable that is truly versatile when dressing it.  Bein millimeter case, it can fit neatly under a shirt cuff, and suit jacket.  The clean black dial has a more refined appearance, and the lack of bezel keeps the profile low and more elegant overall.  Concomitantly, it can look great with a white t-shirt and jeans.  This early production number comes without the engraved rehaut, which adds a very unnecessary extra detail to a clean design. The watch comes with a Foundwell one-year warranty against mechanical failure. This is a superb looking, and hard to find complete unpolished example of a model that is increasing in its popularity. 



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Item Dimensions
Case Size (not inc. crown)
1.58 inches (4.0132cm)