Born in Cairo in 1920, Farouk was the son and successor of King Fouad. Since Farouk was under age when he acceded to the throne, a regency council was formed until his constitutional powers were handed over to him in July 1937. In July 1952, under the pressure of the army's revolution led by Mohammad Nagib (1901-1984), King Farouk was forced to abdicate the throne to his son Ahmad Fouad II who was then still a child (born 1952). Farouk left Egypt for Europe. He died in 1965 in Rome in and was buried in Egypt. During his exile in Europe, Farouk became a well esetablished collector, particularly of small, applied arts objects. Among his extensive collection of objects of vertu, including several Fabergé creations, was a range of watches, primarily enameled examples, from 1780 to 1820, with music, automata and sometimes with erotic scenes. He also favored watches made for the Turkish or Far Eastern markets and was fond of modern watches, whether pocket or wristwatches, by the most prestigious makers. Whenever he had to present a gift, it would often be a watch. The coat of arms featured on this watch is the same as that on the celebrated "King Fouad", a unique and highly complicated pocket watch by Vacheron & Constantin sold by Antiquorum, ?The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Constantin?, April 3, 2005, Lot 182.