Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 116

Leonard Bury A Basle, circa 1670. Exceptional single-hand, pre balance spring astronomical, manual perpetual calendar alarm watch with phases and age of the moon.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 12,600 - 19,000 / USD 15,600 - 23,500

Sold: CHF 32,200

C. Two-body, "bassine" with deep back and inward edges, pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage, small rosette in the center.D. Gilt brass plate, entirely engraved with flowers and foliage. The three applied silver subsidiary dials show: on the left, the date with aperture for the days of the week with governing planets; on the right, the age of the moon in the same way, and the phases of the moon inset in the disc, aperture at 12 o?clock for months, below the radial Roman hour chapter with half-hour marks, center with revolving silver alarm disk with a brass pointer indicating the hours. Blued steel "baluster" hands, including the alarm setting one.M. 39.5 mm, pinned to the hinged dial plate, gilt brass, full plate, four turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, four-wheel gilt train, verge escapement, circular steel foliot, small, cock, symmetrically pierced and engraved with wild strawberries, very small foot, worm-gear and pinion mainspring set-up, alarm with fixed pierced and engraved barrel and two-wheel steel train, semi-circular hammer striking bell fixed to the bottom of the case. Signed on the movement.Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Leonard Bury (also Leonhard Burry) He was born in 1633, became Master in 1669 and died in Basel in 1706. Bibliography: Swiss Timepiece Makers, by Kathleen H. Pritchard, Maine, 1997.