Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

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

LOT 318

L. Leroy & Cie., 13-15, Galerie Montpensier, Palais Royal, Paris, No. 21486, circa 1890. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, diamond-set, keyless ring watch, in original fitted box.

USD 14,000 - 16,000

Sold: USD 18,400

C. Two piece marquise with diamond-set shoulders and borders and bezel, the cover with paillonne decoration over a blue enamel ground. D. White enamel with radial Arabic numerals. Blued-steel "batons " hands. M. Shaped gilt brass "duo-plan" type, 18 jewels, the counterpoised straight line lever escapement on the back plate, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring, wound by means of the revolving bezel. Signed on the dial and movement. Dim. 30 x 16 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 2-19

Very good

Dent(s)
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 23-51

Later

Partially reprinted

Notes

Keyless ring watches produced before 1900 are extremely rare. Only five ring watches of this type, are recorded in the archives of Maison Leroy. Their winding device was later adopted in Switzerland for the so-called "Boules de Geneve", very much in favour during the first decade of the 20th century. The four other watches are: No. 21486 Montre bague Louis XVI a ancre a remontoire circulaire par la lunette, entourage de brillants et email bleu. Sold in 1891. No. 21493 Montre a ancre ci remontoire coculaire, monte en bague marquise, en.touree de diamants. Sold on 1889 to S.A. Don Saint Francois d'Assise, Chateau d'Epinay, for 2300 Francs. No. 1081 Montre bague Louis XVI cl ancre a remontoire circulaire par la lunette, entourage de brillants at entail bleu. Sold in 1895. No. 2655 Bague 5 lignes a remontoire circulaire, roses sur lunette, deux Bros brillants et 10 petits. Sold in 1991 to Maison Cottereau in Constantinople for 2500 Francs. These ring watches were among the most expensive sold by L. Leroy & Cie. in that period.