Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 562

Early Minute-Repeating Leroy & Fils, Hgers du Roi, a Paris, No. 21742, the movement Swiss, No. 6663. Made circa 1825. Fine and very rare, 18K gold,minute-repeating pocket watch with three hammers striking on square-section gongs and ruby cylinder escapement.

CHF 16,000 - 20,000

USD 15,000 - 18,000 / EUR 10,000 - 13,000

C. Four-body, "Empire" with reeded band, cast and chased foliate scroll bezels, pendant and bow. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Silver engine-turned with radial Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel spade hands. M. Gilt brass, standing barrel, jeweled to the third wheel, ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance with parechute on the upper pivot, blued steel flat balance spring, blued steel index regulator with bimetallic temperature compensation curb, polished-steel repeating work on the dial plate, repeating with three hammers on two square-section polished-steel gongs activated by a pull-and-twist piston in the pendant. Cuvette signed. Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-10-11

Good

Patinated

Slightly worn
Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4-10-03

Fair

Patinated

HANDS Period

Notes

Minute-repeating watches from this period are very rare and very few makers were capable of producing them, almost all were made in Switzerland. This watch uses the English-type ruby cylinder escapement that is very occasionally found in Breguet?s watches it also utilizes Breguet?s pare-chute shock protection device and temperature compensation curb.