40,250 CHF
Pierre Le Roy à Paris, No. 1247, with the Paris hallmarks for 1762. Extremely rare and fine 18 ct. three coloured gold, à-tact and dumb quarter- repeating watch with special escapement. Double body, Louis XV, the bezel chased with the twelve signs of the zodiac, the back with a fine three coloured gold representation of the terrestrial globe and the allegorical figures of the four seasons, an equation of time table engraved on the border. 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, frictional rest escapement drawn from that of Debaufre, with two escape wheels facing each other and a single pallet on the balance staff. Plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock and garnet end-stone. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant, with tactile piece in the bezel . Signed on the dial and the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 44 mm. Notes Invented by Pierre Le Roy, the brocher of Julien, the escapement of this watch '-vas described in Histoire et Mémoires de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, for 1742, Paris 1745, pp.158-161, and in Gallon: Recueil des Machines et Inventions approuvées par l'Académie Rot/ale des Sciences,1742, No.449, Vol. VII, Paris 1777, pp. 128-138 with plate. This watch is described and illustrated in colour, with details of its escapement, by A. Chapiro, in his book: La Montre Française du XVlème
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1993-11-14
