Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Geneva, Nov 11, 2012
LOT 420
PAUL MÉROZ - EXHIBITION ENAMEL WATCH DIAL WITH MICROSCOPIC LETTERING "THE LORD?S PRAYER" Paul Méroz, Swiss, "La Minuterie Reproduit en Lettres Microscopiques L?Oraison Dominicale". Made circa 1910. Very fine and rare, large, enamel watch dial, the Lord?s Prayer written as a trompe l?oeil in microscopic lettering for the minute indexes.
CHF 8,000 - 12,000
USD 8,500 - 13,000 / EUR 6,500 - 10,000
D. Three-piece, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions formed from words from the Lord?s Prayer, red fi ve-minute numerals, around the centre written in red "La Minuterie Reproduit en Lettres Microscopiques L?Oraison Dominicale", large subsidiary seconds dial with red numerals. Signed. Diam. 52 mm. In very good condition
Notes
Only a very small number of watch dials are known with this type of
miniature writing which is so small that with the naked eye the words
are not visible but appear to be simply lines for the minute divisions.
Only on closer inspection under magnifi cation can the words be
seen. The making of this dial would have taken incredible skill and
patience, it was probably made for exhibition purposes as it remains
undrilled. Little is known about Paul Méroz although it is likely he was
part of the Méroz watchmaking family in Geneva where at least six
watchmakers of that name were working. Another watch (formerly
in the Time Museum) with miniaturized Lord?s Prayer inscription
(perhaps also by Méroz) was sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, May 15th,
2005, lot 170.