Unique and Most Complicated Wristwatch in the World Gérald Genta, Geneva, "Grande Sonnerie - Rétrograde" No. 1, Ref. G 0026, produced in very few examples in 1996. Exceptionally fine and equally important, ultra-thick, double-train, self-winding, water-resistant gentleman's platinum wrist-watch with Westminster chime, Grande et Petite Sonnerie and silent display, four gongs and four hammers, minute-repeating, perpetual calendar, retrograde date, 48-hour power reserve indicator, indicator for the striking, and with one-minute tourbillon regulator in fully engraved movement, four crowns and a platinum Gérald Genta deployant clasp. Accompanied by original box and certificate.

C. two-body, truncated cone-shaped, glazed back with sapphire crystal secured by bolts, stepped bezel, "Vendôme" lugs with fluted middle portion, Genta winding-crown at 3, Grande et Petite Sonnerie at 7, repeater at 9, silent/striking at 11, pushbuttons on the band for adjusting the retrograde calendar and 24-hour indications. D. pale blue mother-of-pearl with tritium dot indexes, the 12 in applied white gold stylized Arabic numerals, six auxiliary ring dials for striking power reserve at 1, up-and-down indication at 5, small seconds at 6, Grande et Petite Sonnerie indicator at 7, Silence-Chimes sector at 11, at the center, the retrograde-date ring dial , apertures for the day of the week, the month and the leap year. "Epée" tritium-coated white gold hands, red for the small seconds. M. Cal. 31.000, stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, engraved, 57 jewels, three-arm polished steel tourbillon carriage, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance with screws, self-compensating flat balance spring, two-directional rotor winding going train in one direction and striking train in the other, tandem winding. Signed on dial, case and movement. Diam. 40 mm., thickness 16 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 2934, circa 1750. Very fine, important and rare, small silver Grande Sonnerie quarter-repeating coach watch with alarm.

C. Two-body, "Louis XV", engraved in a basketwork pattern. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers, center silver alarm-setting disc. Gilt brass "Louis XV" hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned conical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance-spring, florally pierced and engraved balance cock with polished steel end-piece. Grande Sonnerie quarter-striking with fixed barrel, alarm and pull-cord quarter-repeating on a bell. Signed on the back plate. Diam.75 mm.

The First French Wearable Precision Timekeeper Inventée et construite par Ferdinand Berthoud, Exécuite par Louis Berthoud, production started 1765, finished 1785 and sold in 1787 to His Royal Highness The Prince of Asturias, future King of Spain Charles IV. Extremely important, unique, exceptionally fine, the first French wearable Longitude Timekeeper (Montre de poche à Longitude), the first French watch with spring detent escapement, gridiron temperature compensation and regulator dial, accompanied by gilt brass stand.

C. Three-body, "Tambour", glazed back (brass back enclosed), polished, gimbaled pendant, hinged bezel. D. Gilt brass dial plate with applied silver Roman hour ring at the top with quarter-hour divisions, lower to the right applied silver minute chapter with five-minute Arabic markers, to he left subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "arrowhead" hands. M. 54.1 mm. (24’’’), gilt duoplan brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain with maintaining power, spring detent escapement of special construction with large impulse roller, unlocking pin engaging long U-shaped passing spring mounted on the impulse roller, large monometallic three-arm balance with regulating screws and blued steel balance spring colleted with a bracket hold with two screws and studded in special stud with horizontal and vertical adjustments, gridiron temperature compensation changing the active length of the balance spring via two levers and one spring, no motion work, hands driven directly from the going train. Signed on the dial, mainspring signed "Monginot 1785". Dim. Diam 60 mm., thickness 32 mm.

Louis Berthoud, No. 24-2421, ordered by the King Louis XVI, production started in 1789, sold to Monsieur Ravel on 26 Prairial (14 June 1795) for 4000 Livres. Unique and equally fine very important 18K gold, double-face quarter-repeating, à toc, free-sprung Montre Marine with independent equation of time of special design and annual calendar.

C. Three-body, Consular-like without fixed cuvette, massive, polished with concealed hinge. D. Mean time: white enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute "star" track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. Mounted to gilt brass à bate levée ring. Solar time: Silver ring with champlevé Roman numerals, outer minute track, annular calendar sub-dial at 12 o’clock. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 47.7 mm. (21 1/4’’’), gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain with maintaining power, Louis Berthoud pivoted detent escapement, three-arm cut bimetallic compensation balance with sliding wedged temperature compensation weights, free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring mounted on adjustable stud, entire escapement jeweled. Ingenious equation mechanism, independent of the going train; the annual wheel is advanced during the winding of the watch, Solar motion work driven by pignon moteur (see drawing) protruding from the mean time motion work, equation of time adjustment done via Rivaz mechanism with differential adjustment by planetary motion of the minute wheel "D" pinion set on the revolving and spring-loaded minute wheel bridge "A" controlled by the equation cam, additional mechanism for removing the load from the pignon moteur and thus making the going train practically free from any additional load. Repeating by two hammers on two gold blocks fixed to the case by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and on the edge of the bate levée. Diam. 61 mm.

The First French Wearable Precision Timekeeper, the Origin of Modern Horology Louis Berthoud, Paris, No. 9-2280, ordered by Count Chastenay de Puységur, production started 1785, finished in 1786 and delivered in 1787 to Monsieur Cassini, Director of Royal Observatory for study, sold to Baron von Humboldt on October 16, 1798 for 97 gold Louis (2328 livres). Extremely important and exceptionally fine 18K gold watch with free-sprung compensation balance and regulator dial. The first French jeweled watch, the first portable timepiece with friction rollers in the world, the first Montre Marine with Louis Berthoud pivoted detent escapement, and the first with helical balance springs, honored with the highest National French Horological award with 6000 livres and distinction.

C. Three-body, "Consular", polished with concealed hinges. D. White enamel, Roman hour chapter at the top, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic markers, subsidiary seconds. Gold Breguet hands. M. 50 mm., frosted gilt full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain with maintaining power, 2 jewels, Louis Berthoud pivoted detent escapement, gold escape wheel, 3-arm riveted bimetallic compensation balance with three wedged temperature adjustment weights, steel mean time screws, free-sprung helical balance spring, three friction rollers on the lower balance pivot, each one with a steel endplate, upper pivot jeweled and with diamond endstone, no motion train; minute hand driven from the center wheel, hour hand from the fusee. Signed on dial and movement. Diam. 62 mm.

The First Deck Watch in the World Pierre Le Roy, Paris, made in 1774, made for the Duke de Penthièvre, restored by Henri Laresche in 1806. Exceptionally rare, extremely important and very fine gold and silver, double-dial, center-seconds, special escapement watch with special temperature compensation "for the use of Astronomers and Seamen".

C. Three-body, "Consular" without fixed cuvette, glazed on both sides, silver reeded bezels with gold front edges, gold band with silver movement ring. D. White enamel, made by Lucard, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, winding aperture at 4 o’clock, balance aperture at 6 o’clock. Blued steel Breguet hands. Seconds dial: White enamel, by Lucard, outer seconds track with five-seconds Arabic markers, regulating aperture at 7 o’clock with regulating sector, balance aperture at 6 o’clock. M. 41 mm., gilt brass full plate, fusee and chain with maintaining power, Sully’s type frictional rest escapement, steel escape wheel, 3-arm gold balance running perpendicular to the movement, blued steel 4 3/4-coil balance spring, very special bimetallic temperature compensation, hardened steel bushings, ruby endstone. Signed on the time dial "Julien LeRoy invenit, Paris 1772", on the seconds dial "H. Laresche Renovavit, Paris 1804", both dials signed on reverse by Lucard. Diam. 67 mm.

Louis Berthoud, Paris, No. 2370, sold to Prince Karol Radziwill for 100 Louis (2400 livres), hallmarked 1789. Very fine, rare and important 18K gold early chronometer "Montre secondes" Garde Temps.

C. Three-body, "Consular", called by Berthoud "double fond", by Joly No. 115, polished with concealed hinges and secret locking. D. White enamel of regulator type with eccentric small hour chapter ring at the top, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic markers, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel hands. M. 51 mm., brass full plate, back plate finished by circular pattern, conical pillars, fusee with chain and maintaining power, 2 jewels, Louis Berthoud pivoted detent escapement, gold passing spring and gold banking pin, four-arm riveted compensation balance, trapezoidal weights with gold poising and timing screws, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring. Signed on the dial and back plate. Diam. 61 mm.

Dumas, Elève du Gouvernement, No. 21, circa 1840. Very fine and extremely rare silver and gold pocket chronometer made under the direction of Henri Motel, with original ratchet key.

C. Four-body, forme quatre baguettes, by Jules Perot (Master mark), with gold rims, engine-turned back and ribbed band. Hinged silver cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 22???, gilt brass bar caliber with going barrel, Louis Berthoud type pivoted detent escapement, cut bimetallic two-arm compensation balance with poising and timing screws, free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves. Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 58 mm.

Ch. H. Grosclaude & Co., Fleurier, circa 1870. Fine 18K gold hunting-cased double-train independent dead seconds, quarter-seconds diablotine watch with 12-hour register and thermometer.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette, pin at one o?clock to activate the second train. D. White enamel, eccentric Roman numeral hour and minute chapter set at 3 o?clock, at 9 o?clock dead seconds register, subsidiary dial for the quarter-seconds diablotine at 6 o?clock, at 12 o?clock the thermometer, outermost, a fifth-seconds track for the independent seconds hand. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 45 mm. (20???), frosted gilt, 25 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, independent seconds controlled by extra wheel set on the escape wheel arbor meshing with a dart set on the last arbor of the independent seconds train. Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 56 mm.

Charles Henri Grosclaude & Fils, Fleurier, Suisse, No.3944/26177, circa 1865. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel keyless minute tourbillion regulator watch with reversed fusee and special patented winding and setting mechanism.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", back engine-turned and centered with enameled initials, reeded bezels and band, gold hinged glazed cuvette. D. Silver, Roman numerals, outer minute track, center with applied gold basket of flowers, outermost with applied gold scrolling decoration. Blued steel "fleur-de-lis" hands. M. 45 mm. (20???), frosted gilt, reversed fusee and chain, maintaining power, mainspring barrel and fusee under one bridge, tourbillon carriage similar to that of Guinand and Grether, lateral calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, rare winding/setting mechanism patented by O. Courvoisier, English patent No. 1114 of 1873 with setting bolt on the band at 1 o?clock. Signed on the dial, punched with makers trademark "CH G&F" inside back cover. Diam. 55 mm.

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, "Reverso", No. 823421, case No. 609481, retailed by Gübelin Lu-cerne. Produced in 1930, sold on June 29, 1932. Extremely fine and rare, rectangular, rever-sible, 18K white gold gentleman's wristwatch.

C. three-body, solid, polished, reeded bezel, black champlevé enamel plate on the back bearing the initials "D.B." D. black with applied white gold indexes, auxiliary seconds dial. "Moderne" white gold hands. M. Cal. 9''', rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted to 8 positions, flat balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 23 x 37 mm.

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 410236, case by Verger Freres No. 12407, re-tailed by Van Cleef & Arpels, Paris, circa 1930. Very fine and rare 18K gold, silver, azure lacquer, lapis lazuli and black onyx desk clock in shape of an Oriental scent bottle with rotating ring hour display.

C. Light blue lacquer scent bottle shaped with high-relief decoration of roses and lotus flowers with Oriental ladies on each side, lapis lazuli ring at the top with gold edges with hour display, lacquer stopper decorated en suite, stepped square base with top of lapis lazuli with gold ring, above two black onyx steps decorated with lapis lazuli at each corner, gold square feet. D. Gold ring with Arabic numerals, and quarter divisions indicated in aperture at the lapis lazuli ring. M. 45 mm., frosted gilt, 17 jewels, 8 adjustments, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring. Signed on the movement, case punched with Verger Freres marks, base engraved with the retailer?s name. Dim. Height 12 cm., base width 7 cm.

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 3865 83, case No. 93 59 by Verger frères, Paris. delivered on December 9, 1925, retailed by Lacloche frères, Paris. Extremely fine 18K gold and enamel, diamond-set, onyz, amber and emeral Art Deco 8 day going clock with mother of pearl dial, in original fitted box.

C. In the form of a monstrance, the base of onyx, the octagonal black enameled gold frame supported by an amber stand with two rows of emeral beads. D. Gold mounted, combination of several shades of mother of pearl with an engraved gold sphinx in the foreground and columns in the background. gold "serpent" hands. M. "Astral", 19???, nickel-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, 8 adjustments, Breguet balance spring. Signed on the movement and on a small gold panel inlaid in the onyx base. Dim. 125 x 84 x 50 mm.

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 860025, case No. 613275, Ref. 130, made in 1936, sold on March 3rd, 1937. Production of this reference started in 1934. Extremely rare and very important 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with single button chronograph on the crown, register and tachometer. Accompanied by an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle and the "Extrait des Registres".

C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed, concave curved lugs. D. matte silver with painted Arabic numerals for 12 and 6 and indexes, auxiliary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer 1/5th second scale, concentric, tachometer and minute graduation. "Feuille" blued steel hands. M. 13''', rhodium-plated, 23 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance-spring, the winding-crown is for start-stop and return to zero functions of the chronograph. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 33 mm.

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 888018, case No. 674391, Ref. 2497, first series. Production of this reference started in 1951. Very fine and rare center-seconds, astronomic, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases with an 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle.

C. three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel, fluted curved lugs. D. matte silver with applied pink gold Arabic nu-merals and dot indexes, auxiliary dial for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Pink gold "Feuille" hands. M. Cal. 27-SC Q , stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm.

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 888001, case No. 674366, Ref. 2497, second example of the first series. Production of this reference started in 1951. Very fine and extremely rare center-seconds, astronomic, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases with an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle.

C. three-body, solid, polished, concave and flat back edge and bezel, fluted curved lugs. D. matte silver with applied yellow gold Arabic numerals and dot indexes, auxiliary dial for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Yellow gold "Feuille" hands. M. Cal. 27-SC Q , stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, rhodium-plated, "fausses-c?tes" decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm.

Watch with 6 Complications Hri. Grandjean & Cie, (Le Locle), Swiss, No. 37419, made for C. Marcks & Co., Bombay and Poona, circa 1890. Very fine 18K gold keyless astronomical minute-repeating hunting-cased watch with perpetual calendar, and phases of the moon, made for the Indian Market.

C. Four-body, massive, "bassine et filets", fully engraved with stylized foliage scrolling, gold hinged cuvette over glazed gold bezel for viewing the movement partly engraved with flowers and leaves. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four year leap cycle and subsidiary seconds concentric with phases of the moon aperture. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 44 mm. (20???), gilt brass, 31 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band. Signed on dial and movement by the retailer, Grandjean Trademark on the case. Diam. 55 mm.

Swiss, No. 5114, made for Bigelow, Kennard & Co., Boston, circa 1890. Very fine 18K gold keyless astronomical minute-repeating watch with perpetual calen-dar, phases of the moon, split-seconds chrono-graph and 60-minute register.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", polished with engraved initials in the back, gold hinged cuvette, chronograph safety bolt at 1 o?clock on the band, split seconds activated push-button at 11 o?clock. D. White enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute and chronograph tracks with five-minute/seconds red Arabic markers, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four-year leap cycle concentric with minute register, and subsidiary seconds with phases of the moon aperture. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 42 mm. (19???), rhodium-plated, 36 jewels, "superior adjustment", straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, "swan-neck" micrometric regulator, chronograph mechanism on the back plate, split mechanism under the dial, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band. Signed on dial, case and movement signed by the retailer. Diam. 51 mm.

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 860183, case No. 4178996, Ref. 96. Made in 1937, sold on December 16, 1937. Unique and exceptional, astronomic, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch with retrograde perpetual calendar and moon phases, with an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle, the first wristwatch with retrograde perpetual calendar ever created. Accompanied by the Extract of the Archives.

C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed, flat bezel, concave lugs D. matte silver with applied yellow gold Roman numerals and painted indexes, inner retrograde graduation for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases, auxiliary seconds dial. Yellow gold hands and "Feuille" blued steel hands for the retrograde calendar. M. Cal. 11''', rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 30 mm.

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 864470, case No. 635565, movement No. 864470, Ref. 1591. Made in 1944, delivered on November 27, 1944, to Favre Leuba & Co. Unique and extremely important astronomical, water-resistant, indirect center seconds, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

C. two-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, polished bezel, scroll lugs, dust-protecting cap. D. silver with Arabic tritium-coated numerals, auxiliary dial for the seconds and the days of the month, aperture for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Blued steel tritium-coated skeleton hands. M. Cal. 12'''-120, stamped with Geneva Quality Hallmark, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 20 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm.