Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, May 10, 2009

LOT 48

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 yellow gold, minute-repeating pocket watch with three hammers striking on square-section gongs and ruby cylinder escapement.

CHF 9,000 - 13,000

USD 7,800 - 11,000 / EUR 6,000 - 8,500

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.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3-24

Good

Slightly chipped

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-10-01

Good

Patinated

HANDS Original

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.