WONDERS IN WATCHES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 9

WONDERS IN WATCHES

EXQUISITE WORKMANSHIP. ' A man in Switzerland has just made-a watch entirely of ivory obtained from; an old billiard hall. Works, hands, and case are of the same material. And yet it keeps very good time. The first phonographic watch was made in Paris 'in 1897. It was large arid heavy, but was regarded as a great curiosity nevertheless. Now, however, watches that speak the hours in place, of chiming' them are not at all uncommon. ■ _ But as the " House Beautiful points out, some of these are still somewhat bulky, as compared with the best ordinary chronometers, although not so much so but that they can be-easily carried in a waistcoat P °Bencath the crystal back of a valuable chronometer we liave seen, six tiny gold and silver fish with ruby eyes seem to be swimming about in real water. The fish, infinitely! small, are beautifully modelled,-and the effect of the movement in their natural element is due to a combination of hair springs with a background of quicksilver. Far more wond'erful because, of its small size is the watch owned V- 'the Tsarina of Russia, originally presented to thq Empress Elizabeth on her coronation. At the back is inset an exquisitely beautiful little model of the Holy Sepulchre, over .which is seen standing stern and motionless a Praetorian guard. ■ This is viewed through the crystal of the case. On opening it the imitation stones roll away from the mouth of the miniature vault, the sentry kneels reverently, angels appear at opposite sides of the opening, and at the samo time there is played, softly and sweotiy, the music of ono- of the sacred Easter songs beloved by all'orthodox Russiano. The watch weighs only seven ounces, the maker worked at ii nine years.