Russian Grand Duke Konstantin Imperial Award Watch

Imperial Award Watch with Cipher of Grand Duke Konstantin.

Gilded silver keywind open face pocket watch by Swiss watchmaker Ami Sandoz & Son, late 1890s, the bridges of the movement shaped as a Russian Imperial double headed eagle (executed in the 18th century style). Diameter 2 1/8 in. (5,3 cm). The watch is in excellent working order.

Exceedingly Rare Special Order Watch, Apparently Unpublished.

sold

Details of the eagle are skillfully engraved. The two crowns are set with rubies.

A short crack to the crystal and a few tiny chips around the bronze mounted openings.

The lid nielloed with the cipher 'KK' under Imperial crown for Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich within a circle flanked by laurel and oak branches tied with a ribbon. The cross of the military Order of St. George is placed under the cipher between two ribbons of the order.

The niello work, almost certainly, was done in Russia.

Condition of the silver-gilt case: apparently regilded, light pocket wear, no dents, no major scratches. The niello decorations of the lid are evenly worn.

The dial is very clean. Both the dial and hands are in excellent condition. The crystal of the dial appears to be original and has only one minor scratch.

The above two images show the watch in motion.

Original silver mounted key is of a Russian manufacture. It is decorated with silver Imperial crown and marked with 84 zolotniks standard. The assay mark is from the period between 1896 and 1908.

Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (1858-1915), Aide-de-Camp of the Imperial Suite, General of the Infantry, mostly known as a poet who published his books under the initials Cyrillic 'KP' for Konstantin Romanov, started his military career in the Life Guard Izmaylovsky Regiment and later became its Commander. Between 1891-1900, Konstantin was in charge of the Life Guard Preobrazhensky Regiment. The future Czar Nicholas II served in the regiment under the Grand Duke's command in the early 1890s. Possibly the watch relates to that period. During the early years of the 20th century, Konstantin was a Commander of several other regiments. He also had a seat at the State Council and was President of the Academy of Science.

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