Exceptional Collectors Timepieces, Ho...

Geneva, May 15, 2005

LOT 170

The Lord?s Prayer Leon Richard, La Chaux de Fonds, case No. 1911. Made for Albert Voumard, Le Locle on December 20, 1921. Very fine, large and unique silver keyless eight-day two-train astronomic watch with triple time zone, sideral 24-hour indication, perpetual calendar, four-season indication, centre seconds and fifteen seconds indication, the Lord?s day, moon phases, power reserve and compass. Accompanied by the original leather covered, velvet lined fitted case.

CHF 60,000 - 90,000

EUR 40,000 - 60,000 / USD 50,000 - 75,000

Sold: CHF 103,500

C. Four-body, massive "bassine et filets carrure ronde",polished, the crown set with a glazed compass, setting buttonsfor the two extra time zones in the band, five-bar hinges. Hingedsilver cuvette with concealed compartment. D. White enamel,two-tone, dedication inscription and the Lord's Prayer aroundthe dial circumference, dual meantime dials with Roman numer-alsand outer minute tracks, one for "Heure Suisse" and one for"Heure France", outer arabic 24-hour numerals, subsidiary dialsfor days of the week, date, month, four year, four seasons andfifteen seconds dial divided for 75 vibrations (5 graduations persecond), apertures for moon phases and for the appearance ofthe effigy of Jesus Christ every Sunday. Blued steel Breguet hourand minute hands, blued steel spade subsidiary hands.M. 56 mm (25???), rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration,tandem winding, jewels in screwed chatons, straight line leverescapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with 18,000vibrations per hour, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swanneck micrometer adjustment to the regulator.Dial signed, case numbered.Diam. 81 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

The very unusual, extremely small and minutely executed inscription in French around the circumference of the dial is the Lord's Prayer and the dedication "Fait par Leon Richard a La Chaux de Fonds pour Albert Voumard Horloger Le Locle Suisse Le Vingt Decembre 1921". The present watch was offered for sale in Geneva in 1976, by the descendents of Albert Voumard. As written on the dial the watch was made by Leon Richard of La Chaux-de-Fonds for Albert Voumard, Le Locle, December 20, 1921. It has been calculated that the hand of the fiteen seconds dial makes 8,365,360 revolutions every four years. Provenance: Descendents of Albert Voumard, Le Locle Antiquorum, Geneva, 1976, lot 239 Time Museum Inventory no. 3674