French gold, enamel, ruby and diamond-set cylinder Circa 1860

Cylinder watch enamel painted in imitation of pietra dura by Le Roy & Fils
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A fine and very rare French 18 carat gold, enamel painted in imitation of pietra dura, ruby and diamond-set cylinder pendant watch, circa 1860. Matte gilt movement, bar calibre, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement, three-arm gilt balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Gold hinged cuvette. Dial decorated with champlevé enamel on gold in imitation of pietra dura, the background imitating jasper, gold Roman numerals on white cartouches, outer white minute track with gold minute divisions and original pierced gold hands. Polished case, the back enamelled in imitation of jasper with gold foliate outlining and quartered by rose-cut rubies and diamonds. Cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 31 mm
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Signed: Le Roy & Fils H.gers de la Marine Palais-Royal 13 & 15 Galerie Montpensier Paris & 296 Regent Street London
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The case and dial decoration of this watch successfully imitates the rare and very expensive ‘boîtes à incrustations’ cases made for Breguet by the jeweller Jean- Baptiste Fossin in the early 19th century. So convincing is the Trompe l’oeil effect of the dial that it only becomes apparent after very close inspection that it is enamelled rather than being made of inlaid hardstones.