24,150 CHF
A. Golay-Leresche & Fils, Genève, No. 16946, circa 1890. Very fine 18K gold hunting-cased keyless astronomical minute-repeating watch with perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, chronograph, and especially finished non-magnetic escapement in original fitted box. Six-body, "bassine et filets", polished with monogrammed front, gold hinged cuvette over glazed gold bezel for viewing the movement. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost chronograph track divided into fifths, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four year leap cycle and subsidiary seconds concentric with phases of the moon aperture. Blued steel "spade" hands. Notes Complicated watches with non-magnetic escapement are rare. This one also features a rare conical screw micrometric regulator. Golay-Leresche Was founded in 1837 and very quickly became one of Geneva's leading horological companies. One of its founding members was Henri Golay, who in 1859 invented a mechanism for striking grande sonnerie watches with minute-repeating. When Henri Ekegrén came to Geneva in 1847 he began his career with Golay-Leresche, where he worked until 1857. The company won a Silver Medal at the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, along with many other prizes. It was located Quai des Bergues, 31, next to the Hotel de Bergues. In 1857, the firm passed into the hands of the founder's son, who made complicated watches for both men and women and began exporting the firm's
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-06-14