143 Ah. Naguib Bey Historically Important and Rare, Pocket Watch in Yellow Gold, Made for the King Farouk of Egypt, With the Royal Family Coat of Arms
Estimate: €4,000 – 8,000
Sold (Premium)€11,050
Model: Pocket Watch
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Year: 1930s
Movement: Manual
Case N°: 1988
Dimensions: 47 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Accessories: Box
The lot here offered is an historically important specimen of pocket watch manufactured for King Farouk of Egypt. Born in Cairo in 1920, Farouk was the son and successor of King Fuad. Since Farouk was under age when he acceded to the throne, a regency council was formed until his constitutional powers were handed over to him in July 1937. In 1952, after being forced to abdicate the throne to his son Ahmad Fouad II who was then still a child, Farouk left Egypt for Europe. He died in 1965 in Rome and was buried in Egypt. During his exile in Europe, Farouk became a well-established collector, particularly of small, applied arts objects. Among his extensive collection of objects of vertu, including several Fabergé creations, was a range of watches, primarily enameled examples. He also favored watches made for the Turkish or Far Eastern markets and was fond of modern watches, whether pocket or wristwatches, by the most prestigious makers. The specimen here offered is a very elegant “Empire” style pocket watch, with finely executed coat of arms of the Royal family of Egypt in polychrome enamel on the back. The back is hinged and the band is finely reeded decorated. The matte silver dial has painted Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, engine-turned center and outer border with blued steel Breguet hands. The dial is signed: Ah. Naguib Bey, which stands for Ahmed Naguib or, as known in the modern Egyptian history, Ahmed Pasha Naguib, King Farouk’s special jeweler. Trusted supplier of all kinds of jewelry, this boutique is also linked to the name of the King for another curious episode: in fact, is told that King Farouk I met his second wife Nariman at the Naguib Pasha’s Jewelry shop at Abdel Khalek Tharwet Street in Cairo when she was searching with her family for engagement jewelry for her first engagement. A piece of history and testament to a bygone era, the watch is also offered with its original box.