Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 548

Ulysses and the Phaeacians Daniel de St. Leu, London, No. 788. Made circa 1760. Extremely fine and very rare, 20K gold, rococo repousse pair-cased pocket watch with alarm and jewelled verge pivots.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

USD 14,000 - 18,000 / EUR 9,500 - 13,000

C. Outer: two-body, repousse and very finely chased with a scene of Ulysses and the Phaeacians within a rococo border with pierced foliate sound frets, bezel decorated to match. Inner: Two-body, ?bassine?, the band pierced and engraved with foliate scrolls, shells and a mask, central engraved rosette, polished bezel. Gilt dust cover. D. White enamel on gold with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost Arabic five-minute numerals, aperture for the white enamel alarm setting disc with Arabic numerals, setting arbor below. Gold arrow hands. M. 33 mm., gilt brass, full plate, ring-turned pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, steel balance with jeweled holes for both pivots, flat balance spring, single-footed rococo balance cock finely pierced with foliate scrolls, diamond endstone, silver regulation disc, alarm train with fixed barrel, sounding with two polished steel hammers on a bell in the back of the case. Dial, dust cap and movement signed. Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-24-01

Good

Slightly chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch is of very high quality, even by the standards of English watches of the period. It has the very unusual feature for an English watch of alarm only, without any additional form of repeating or striking. The alarm mechanism is interesting because it uses the wheelwork and hammers of a traditional striking train but the under-dial work is specially designed to make it work as an alarm. The alarm is set using the numbered aperture in the dial, the dial itself is enameled on gold. It is extremely rare to find jeweled holes for the pivots of a verge balance, which is another indicator of the very high level of finish given to this watch.
Daniel de St. Leu (active 1753-1797) Of Genevan origin, he worked in Geneva and London. Made watchmaker to the Queen in 1765, Saint Leu was renowned for very fine enameled and varicolored gold clockwatches set with diamonds and precious stones, and for repeating watches for the Turkish and Islamic markets. He also made a magnificent silver-mounted clock for the Court of Spain. See: "Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois", by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998. Although de Saint Leu himself was only active until about 1797, the company continued to make watches under his name for roughly another 15 years