Kelek Automaton Pocket Watch, 5 Minute Repeater. Chain and Case. Switzerland, 1990

Kelek Automaton Pocket Watch, with 5 Minute Repeater. Switzerland, 1990

This elegant vintage Kelek pocket watch, manufactured in Switzerland around 1990, is a piece that combines tradition, watchmaking engineering and a scenic charm of classical inspiration. Made in gold toned metal of beautiful finish, the watch presents on its front cover a group of relief figures in gold over a deep blue background: a male figure who operates a hammer to strike the bell, another figure in a contemplative attitude and, in the lower part, a dog in pointing position during the hunt, with one paw raised and the muzzle pointing forward, just as corresponds to dogs trained to indicate the prey. Everything integrates into a harmonious composition that evokes the taste for automatons of earlier centuries.

The inner dial, clean and balanced, is signed KELEK and presents fine Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. This aesthetic clarity is complemented by its movement, a mechanism with five minute repeater that is especially clean and in perfect working order. When pressing the side button, the automaton figure located on the right lifts and operates the hammer on the bell: a single strike marks each hour with a clear and resonant gong, while a double gong indicates each five minute interval. The animation is precise and fluid, conveying the essence of the classic jacquemarts that inspired this model.

The movement, fitted with 17 jewels, shows an excellent level of preservation, with quality materials and a design typical of the Swiss watchmaking tradition. The rear cover is decorated with a floral engraving in classical style, including a central fleur de lis surrounded by finely crafted vegetal motifs. The ribbed edge of the case rim provides a technical detail that integrates with elegance into the piece.

The watch is accompanied by its original chain, which completes the set. It also includes its original wooden case, whose light interior enhances the shine of the watch. The only defect in the set is a small knock on a rear corner of the case, which does not affect either its stability or its general presentation. This watch will look splendid in the display cabinet of a collector who loves automatons or in the decoration of an elegant office, where it will contribute a touch of history, sophistication and movement. Moreover, it is not only a piece to admire: it can be perfectly used on a daily basis, since it works with full precision and reliability.

The opportunity to acquire a piece like this is exceptional: its almost like new condition, its impeccable functioning and its unique aesthetics make it an ideal gift, an emotionally evocative accessory or a magnificent addition to any collection dedicated to Swiss watchmaking of classical inspiration. Its technical and artistic qualities, together with its impeccable preservation, make it a piece difficult to match.

Measures: 50 mm (diameter).

History of Kelek and Automaton Watches

The Kelek firm was founded in 1896 in Switzerland, a country that for decades had already been considered the heart of high precision mechanical watchmaking. Throughout the twentieth century, Kelek specialized in the manufacture of complications and movements for other watch houses, which turned it into a technical reference in the sector. These foundations led it, in the 1980s and 1990s, to produce its own watches of classical inspiration, always with a notable level of finish and a clear attention to detail.

The present watch incorporates a five minute repeater, a historical complication that allows identifying the time through acoustic gong sequences. This system was born centuries ago as a functional need in the dark, but with time it became a symbol of technical prestige. Added to this is the jacquemart, a type of automaton that has its origin in medieval and Renaissance clocks, in which human figures struck bells following the passage of time. In pocket watches, these small animated sculptures became an artisanal display that combined art and mechanics.

Kelek used in many of its watches its own movements and also ébauches, a French term that designates base movements or incomplete calibres that are later assembled, adjusted and decorated according to the specifications of the final manufacturer. These ébauches constitute the foundation of much of traditional Swiss watchmaking, and their quality largely determines the technical performance and longevity of the watch.

This model successfully blends the historical heritage of the automaton and the repeater with modern precision. Its design and execution reflect both respect for tradition and the contemporary technical capability of Kelek, offering a piece that is not only collectible, but also fully usable and endowed with a scenic charm that remains relevant.