Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, May 08, 2010

LOT 271

L. Leroy & Cie, Anti-Magnetic chronograph L. Leroy & Cie a Paris, ?Chronographe Ecran Paramagnétique?, No. 68521, case No. 146857. Made in 1910. Very fine and extremely rare, very early antimagnetic, 18K yellow gold, keyless pocket watch with chronograph and instantaneous 30-minute register. Accompanied by the original Leroy fitted box.

CHF 2,500 - 4,500

USD 2,400 - 4,300 / EUR 1,800 - 3,100

Sold: CHF 4,560

C. Three-body, bassine, polished, the back with engraved monogram, the interior engraved "temoignage de sympathie et de reconnaissance les mandataires et les acheteurs, Janvier 1912", button for start/stop and returnto- zero of the chronograph in the crown, soft iron band surrounding the movement. Paramagnetic snap-on cuvette probably made of tantalum. D. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost fifths of a second chronograph divisions, subsidiary 30-minute register at 12 o?clock, subsidiary seconds at 6 o?clock. Gold spade hands. M. 41 mm, 18???, frosted gilt, 21 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold and platinum screws, palladium Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch is a very early antimagnetic watch; the first antimagnetic pocket watches were sold in 1915 by Vacheron & Constantin, though there had been some experimentation as early as 1846. The present watch appears to pre-date those of Vacheron and shows that Leroy made antimagnetic watches very early. The watch is protected from magnetic fields by a soft iron band encircling the movement. The close-fitting cuvette inscribed "Paramagnétique", probably made of tantalum, completes the movement's protection.