Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 32

?The Trophy? Daniel de St. Leu, London. Made for the Islamic market, circa 1790. Extremely fine and rare 18K multicolored gold and rose diamond-set pair-cased, quarter-striking and repeating clockwatch.

CHF 35,000 - 40,000

EUR 23,000 - 26,000 / USD 28,000 - 32,000

C. Outer: two body, the back with a multicoloured gold military trophy in high relief within a polished wavy-line border, pierced foliate surround, the bezel decorated to match, rose-cut diamond thumb-piece. Inner: double body, the band with pierced and chased foliage, small rosette in the centre, the pendant set with a large rose-cut diamond. D. White enamel with radial Islamic numerals, outer minute divisions, five-minute Islamic markers. Pierced gold foliate hands. M. 32 mm., gilt brass full plate, foliate engraved and with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement, brass threearm balance, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, diamond endstone, striking and repeating with three hammers on a bell, strike-silent selection lever in the bezel. Dust-cap missing. Signed on the dial. Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch is of the highest grade with a case of exceptional quality, it would almost certainly have been ordered for presentation by the Sultan or Pasha. The case is comparable with those on display in the Wallace Collection in London. The prestigious watches made by Daniel de St. Leu for the Islamic market are usually either quarter repeating or quarter striking. A quarter striking clockwatch train combined with an independent quarter repeating train is a most unusual feature in de St. Leu?s output. Daniel De St. Leu This very fine maker succeeded Rivers & Son to the post of Maker to the Queen (Charlotte) in 1765. ?Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois? by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998. The present lot was previously sold by Antiquorum Geneva, on April 18, 1998, lot 91.