Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces...

Geneva, Nov 10, 2019

LOT 230

MEDAILLON A TACT

CHF 12,000 - 18,000

HKD 96,000 - 144,000 / USD 12,000 - 18,000

Sold: CHF 36,250

Very fine, rare and large, 20K gold and enamel, set with pearls and diamonds, hunting cased «médaillon à tact» key-winding, round-shaped, “forme collier” pocket watch. Blue flinqué enamel (translucent enamel over guilloché engine-turning) with sunburst effect (eccentric ellipse pattern) revolving case-back, with arrow “à tact” hand set with rosecut diamonds; cover decorated en suite with central sunburst effect; both with finely reeded rims; band set with 24 touch pieces (including the pendant), 12 pearls for the hours and 12 seed gold for the halfhours; detachable polished cuvette with apertures for winding, setting, regulating and the dial.


Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Le Roy

Model Médaillon à tact

Year Circa 1805

Movement No. 3381

Calibre  19’’’, (ebauche No. 860), gilded brass, with going barrel, cylinder escapement, monometallic balance (probably in gold) and blued steel flat hairspring

Diameter 62 mm

Signature Case and Movement

Accessories 18K yellow gold chain and gold winding-key

Notes

Designed by Breguet, few examples of this type of a watch were made by Breguet. ‘Breguet classified his souscription calibers as ‘petite’, ‘moyenne’ and ‘grande’. Out of about 915 souscription type watches that Breguet made, only about 35 ‘petites’ are known to exist. They were the most expensive, averaging about SFr. 1700. Breguet introduced them in the spring of 1799. Le Roy Hologer de S:A:I et R Madame à Paris, is also famous for producing this type of pendant watch using similar Breguet soucription calibers. See Antiquorum catalogue “L’art de L’horologerie en France du XVe au XXe siècle” Geneva 14 November, 1993, Lot 131, 132, 133.