Exceptionally fine French gold lever chronograph Circa 1920

Split seconds chronograph with instantaneous 60 minute register
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An exceptionally fine French 18 carat gold open faced split seconds chronograph keyless lever watch with instantaneous 60 minute register and stop feature, circa 1920. Winner of the Première Classe Bulletin de Marche from the 1921 Besançon Observatoire Timing Contest. Frosted gilt bar caliber movement, 22 jewels, straight-line calibrated lever escapement, gold pallet fork, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold and platinum screws, Palladium Breguet balance spring, pillar plate punched with Viper’s head. Gold hinged cuvette, split seconds pushbutton at 1 o’clock, stop pushbutton at 8 o’clock. Gilt silver dial with champlevé Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost chronograph divisions, sunk subsidiary recorder at 12 o’clock, sunk subsidiary seconds and original blued steel spade hands. Polished case. Dial and case signed, case and movement with corresponding number. Comes with the original Bulletin de Marche, confirmation from 1924 and five original letters relating to the watch from Leroy to the owner.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Signed: L. Leroy & Cie Horlogers de la Marine 7 Bd de la Madeleine Paris
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This watch is of the highest quality made in France during the period. The finishing is superior, with gold fork and palladium spring, very rarely used. All this is, of course, confirmed by the fact that the watch won the Première Classe Bulletin from the Besançon Observatory.