Important Collector's, Watches, Wrist...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 2000

LOT 360

French, circa 1640, with later movement by John Le Roux, Charing Cross, London, No. 1677, circa 1790.Very fine and rare 22K gold and enamel watch.

CHF 50,000 - 60,000

USD 28,000 - 34,000

C. Scallop-shaped, entirely chased, 'Champlevé and réhaussé' enamel with floral patterns in opaque white, blue and black enamels intertwined with translucent red, green, and dark blue enamels, small pendant for loose bow. Outer: leather-covered double-body decorated with gilded piqué work in rosette pattern. D. Gold, chased, Roman numerals in black enamel in a gold ring set in champlevé opaque white enamel, decorated in a similar fashion to the case, with flowers and a body of water, 'poker andeetle' hands. M. Hinged gilded, full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilded brass English cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, gilded dust cap.Signed on the movement and on the dust cap.Diam. inner case 35 mm., outer 44 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 18
Movement: 3* - 29
Dial: 3 - 17 - 01

Notes

The chasing on the dial featuring thin lines, representing flower stems and petals, is reminiscent of cloisonné enamel.It was a common practice in the 18th century to replace a movement in a particularly expensive or beautiful watch. Examples can be found in numerous museums and private collections. The fact that the movement of this watch was replaced by John Leroux, a maker of great repute, known by his excellent workmanship and innovations, suggests that the watch must have been particularly dear to the owner. John Leroux, as his watches preserved in the British Museum point to, might have been the inventor othe draw in the lever escapement, a feature, without which a lever escapement would not function reliably.