Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998

LOT 275

L. Leroy & Cie., Horlogers de la Marine, 7 Boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris, No. 1508, case No. 10715, begun in 1914, completed and sold 28th January 1919 to Mr Sharpe for 2800 Francs + 280 taxes. Very fine and certainly unique of the type, 18K gold Grande Sonnerie, minute repeating keyless clockwatch, carillon Westminster.

USD 40,000 - 45,000

Sold: USD 50,600

C. Three body, massive, "bassine", polished. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Gold engine-turned with Arabic numerals on a frosted chapter ring and sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel "spade" hands. M. 20"', gilt brass, double train with differential winding, 40 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring. Striking and repeating, carillon Westminster on four gongs with four hammers, the repeating train released by means of a slide in the band, Strike/Silent bolt in the ban as well. Signed on the dial, case and movement. Diam. 58 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-51

Very good

Partially reprinted

Notes

Repeating watches on four gongs and with carillon Westminster are very rare. Less than five Grande Sonnerie, minute repeating clock-watches with carillon Westminster are known to exist; they were virtually all produced either by Leroy, Patek Philippe, or Paul Ditisheim. According to the Archives L. Leroy & Cie, at the time it was made, a gold hunting cased, minute repeating watch with split seconds chronograph was sold for 1500 Francs. We gratefully acknowledge Maison Leroy for the information kindly provided from their original archives.