Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 31, 1998

LOT 326

Leroy, Eleve de Breguet, No. 5028, Swiss, made for the Islamic Market, circa 1820. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pair cased cabriolet, quarter repeating watch.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

C. Outer double body, massive, the bezels with foliage decoration against a turquoise champleve enamel ground, the back panel centred with a composition of flowers, finely painted en grisaille over a scarlet flinque enamel ground. Inner four body, massive, the bezels with foliage decoration over a scarlet flinque enamel ground, the back panel with a finely painted lake-side landscape against a pink ground with foliage decoration. The inner case can be turned in the outer case so that the watch can be used either as an open face or as a hunter. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel with Turkish numerals. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 17"', gilt brass, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with parechute suspension at the top pivot, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the index. Repeating on gongs with pull-twist piston through the pendant. Signed on the cuvette and in Turkish on the dial. Diam. 54 mm. Accompanied by a later red leather fitted box.


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Grading System
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Leroy Eleve de Breguet, was the agent of Breguet in Constantinople (refer to the previous lot, for his biography). IIc also had his own business, importing watches from Switzerland, which were sold under his own name. Both the cases of Leroy's watches and those of Breguet's watches made for the Islamic Market, which were normally sold by Leroy, as his agent in Constantinople, represent the highest quality of Geneva workmanship and enamelling of the period. Indeed, their enamel decoration could be the work of Richter or Troll, who were considered to be the best painters of landscape scenes, although signed examples of their work are very rare. Due to his fame, Breguet's Turkish Market watches were much imitated in Switzerland. Sometimes, even Breguet's secret signature, the French hallmarks and the Joly Master Mark were perfectly faked and reproduced. Such a perfect reproduction was sold by Antiquorum in Hong Kong, on May 27, 1991, lot 283.