16,100 CHF
Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 4536, made by his son Pierre, with the Paris hallmarks for 1771-1772. Very fine and historical 18 ct. four coloured gold, dumb quarter-repeating watch. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezel chased with a leaf decoration, the back decorated with astronomical instruments connected with the finding of longitude at sea and with a commemorative bust of a man who has been identified as Julien Le Roy. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais: "J.L. R.", polished steel end-piece. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant with the anchor escapement used as a regulator for the striking train. Signed on the dial and back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 44 mm. Notes This watch is considered as a commemorative watch as it seems to be a tribute paid to his father Julien Le Roy, when Pierre was awarded in 1770 the double prize of the Académie Royale des Sciences, for the best method of finding the longitude at sea. An identical watch No. 4540, is described and illustrated by W. Posner in Antiquarian Horology, June 1970, cover and pp. 431-432 (an off-print copy is coming with the watch).
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1993-11-14
