Le Roy, éléve de Breguet, No. 4344
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1830
This 18K gold minute-repeating pocket watch is attributed to Le Roy, éléve de Breguet, numbered 4344, and produced circa 1830 for the Islamic market. The watch features a four-body case with a scalloped edge and is decorated with painted enamel, including a back cover depicting sailing ships and mountains at sunset.
The dial is white enamel with Islamic numerals and five-minute indicators in Islamic figures, paired with blued steel Breguet hands. Internally, it houses a 40 mm gilt early bridge caliber movement with a cylinder escapement, a three-arm gold balance, and a parachute suspension on the top pivot. The watch features a repeating mechanism on three gongs activated by a pull-and-twist piston in the pendant. The cuvette and dial are signed in Arabic characters.
The auction description notes the movement utilizes an early minute-repeating mechanism based on a movable star wheel.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Dial
- White enamel with Islamic numerals
- Type
- Minute repeating pocket watch
- Maker
- Le Roy, éléve de Breguet
- Condition
- Good
- Escapement
- Cylinder escapement
- Signatures
- Arabic characters
- Case Material
- 18K gold
- Movement size
- 40 mm
- Serial Number
- 4344
- Maker / attribution
- Le Roy, éléve de Breguet
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in an 18K gold four-body case characterized by a scalloped edge. The exterior back cover features painted enamel work showing two sailing ships positioned against mountains and a sunset. The surrounding bezels and border are finished with pink enamel and gold scrolling. The white enamel dial displays time using Islamic numerals, with outer minute markers indicated by Islamic figures. Blued steel Breguet-style hands provide the time indication. The dial bears signatures in Arabic characters.
- Visible features
- • Case features a scalloped edge and painted enamel depicting a landscape with ships • Dial utilizes Islamic numerals • Repeating mechanism activated by pull-and-twist pendant piston • Movement is a gilt early bridge caliber
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction house assigns the object a grade of AAA, though specifically identifies the movement as in "Good" condition. The object is attributed to Le Roy, éléve de Breguet, circa 1830. The description specifies the piece was made for the Islamic market, evidenced by the Arabic numerals on the dial and the Arabic signature on the cuvette and dial.
- Movement and Repeating Mechanism
- The movement is a 40 mm gilt early bridge caliber equipped with a cylinder escapement. Notable technical features include a three-arm gold balance with a flat balance spring, a parachute suspension on the top pivot, and a standing barrel. The watch functions as a minute repeater on three gongs. The mechanism is operated via a pull-and-twist piston located in the pendant. According to the auction report, the movement uses an early repeating mechanism based on a movable star wheel, a precursor to later fixed star wheel designs.
Identification
- Serial number
- 4344
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Condition of the movement is described as needing an overhaul
- Research required: The attribution to the Islamic market is stated by the source but lacks documentary evidence of specific regional commission