Le Roy. A very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel openface pair case cylinder cabriolet watch, made for the Turkish market

POSSIBLY FRÈRES MELLY, GENÈVE, RETAILED BY LE ROY, CONSTANTINOPLE, CASES NUMBERED 150 AND STAMPED WITH CASEMAKER'S MARK FM, CIRCA 1820

Details

Le Roy. A very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel openface pair case cylinder cabriolet watch, made for the Turkish market
Possibly Frères Melly, Genève, retailed by Le Roy, Constantinople, cases numbered 150 and stamped with casemaker's mark FM, circa 1820
Gilt-finished cylinder movement, plain three arm brass balance, black and white champlevé enamel scroll and foliage decorated cuvette, white enamel dial, Turkish numerals, gilt moon-style hands, outer railway minute divisions, inner case with black and white champlevé enamel geometrical decorated bezel, rim and bow, floral decorated pendant, reverse centred by a painted en grisaille enamel trophy of scientific instruments on black background, similarly decorated scalloped outer case, reverse centred by a painted en grisaille bouquet of flowers on black enamel background, cases numbered and with casemaker's mark FM, dial signed with Le Roy's Turkish signature
47 mm. diam.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

The lavishly decorated case and the enamel scenes are of highest quality, underlining the fine craftsmanship of 19th century watchmaking in Geneva. The two cases are conceived for the watch to be used either "open" and showing the dial or "closed" showing the back of the inner case, hence the designation "Cabriolet". The case and frame are of such outstandingly high quality, allowing the inner case to fit so perfectly into the outer case, that the two sides show virtually no difference, neither visible nor tangible, when used as hunter case. The work can be attributed to Frères Melly, often collaborating with Blondel, specialized in the manufacture of watches for the Ottoman Market.

For a note on Blondel & Melly see lot 144 in this auction.

More from Important Watches

View All